A sudden fall, stepping off a curb in high heels, or the playing of intensive sports such as soccer or basketball can all leave us susceptible to a sprained ankle (via Mayo Clinic). Rolling or twisting your foot in an unnatural way can cause damage, such as excessive tearing or stretching, to the ligaments in your ankle. When this occurs, it's considered a sprained ankle injury. A sprained ankle can vary in severity, but common symptoms include swelling, bruising, instability, restricted movement, and tenderness to the touch.

突然摔倒、穿着高跟鞋踩到路牙子、或者踢足球或篮球等高强度运动都会让我们容易扭伤脚踝。以不自然的方式滚动或扭曲都可能会对脚踝韧带造成损伤，如过度撕裂或拉伸。当这种情况发生时，就是脚踝扭伤。踝关节扭伤的严重程度各不相同，但常见症状包括肿胀、瘀伤、不稳定、活动受限和触痛。

While accidents do happen, experts at the Mayo Clinic explain that certain risk factors can increase one's chances for a sprained ankle, such as walking on uneven surfaces, wearing ill-fitted shoes, and participating in sports activities, as well as having incurred any previous ankle injuries.

虽然扭伤难免会发生，但梅奥诊所的专家解释说，某些风险因素会增加脚踝扭伤的几率，比如在不平的路面上行走、穿不合脚的鞋、参加体育活动，以及之前脚踝受伤的情况。

When compared to a severely broken bone, a mild ankle sprain may not look like much. It's easy to think that a little rest and the occasional application of an ice pack will have you back on the field in no time. But letting a sprained ankle go untreated may only further worsen the problem.

与严重骨折相比，轻度踝关节扭伤看起来可能不严重。人们简单的认为，休息一下，偶尔敷上冰袋，你就会很快回到赛场上。但是脚踝扭伤不治疗只会让问题进一步恶化。

An untreated sprained ankle can lead to additional ankle problems

未经治疗的扭伤脚踝可能会导致额外的脚踝问题

According to Orthopedics New England, ankle sprains account for 40% of all ankle-related injuries, and every seven in 1,000 people in the U.S. can expect to experience a sprained ankle. An ankle sprain can occur one of two ways. An ankle that has rolled inward is considered an inversion sprain, while an ankle that has rolled outwards is known as an eversion sprain. While the damage most often occurs within the ligaments along the outside of the ankle, pain on the inside of the ankle can be more serious and affect arch support.

根据新英格兰整形外科的数据，脚踝扭伤占所有脚踝相关损伤的40%，在美国每1000人中就有7人会经历脚踝扭伤。踝关节扭伤有两种情况。踝关节向内翻被称为内翻扭伤，向外翻被称为外翻扭伤。虽然损伤通常发生在脚踝外侧的韧带内，但脚踝内侧的疼痛可能更严重，并影响足弓的支撑。

A sprained ankle that's been left untreated can worsen and leave you susceptible to future health problems. According to experts at Arlington/Mansfield Foot & Ankle Centers, an untreated sprain can lead to continual instability in the ankle joint. Such weakness can increase your chances for additional future ankle injuries and can increase the likelihood of developing certain conditions, such as arthritis and chronic inflammation in the ankle.

脚踝扭伤不及时治疗会使情况恶化，并使你更容易受到未来健康问题的影响。据阿灵顿/曼斯菲尔德足部和踝关节中心的专家说，未经治疗的扭伤会导致踝关节持续不稳定。这种虚弱会增加你未来脚踝受伤的可能性，也会增加患上某些疾病的可能性，比如关节炎和脚踝的慢性炎症。

For this reason, it's always important to consult with a doctor in the event of an ankle injury, and taking preventative measures can help decrease your chances of spraining your ankle. Experts at the Mayo Clinic suggest exercising caution when running or walking on uneven ground, warming up before physical activity, and wearing properly fitted shoes while limiting the use of high heels, as well as maintaining muscle strength and function through proper balancing exercises.

因此，在脚踝受伤的情况下咨询医生还是很重要的，采取预防措施有助于减少脚踝扭伤的几率。梅奥诊所的专家建议，在不平坦的地面上跑步或行走时要谨慎，运动前要热身，穿合适的鞋，同时尽量不穿高跟鞋，并通过适当的平衡运动来保持肌肉力量和功能。