The most annoying of all injuries is probably knocking your little toe into a piece of furniture or door frame… However the most common everyday injury is the Ankle sprain…
The ankle joint, which connects the foot with the lower leg, is often injured in an unnatural twisting motion that occurs when the foot is planted awkwardly, when the ground is uneven, or when an unusual amount of force is applied to the joint. Ankle sprains are common sports injuries but can also happen during everyday activities such as walking or even getting out of bed.
The ankle joint is complex and comprises of several bones, many ligaments and tendons.
Ligaments are injured when a greater than normal stretching force is applied to them. This happens most commonly when the foot is turned inward or “inverted”. Outward or “eversion” sprains are less common, but usually more severe. Both results in tissue injury and inflammation. Blood vessels become “leaky” and allow fluid to ooze into the soft tissue surrounding the joint. White blood cells responsible for inflammation migrate to the area, and blood flow increases, all causing signs of inflammation: swelling, pain, tenderness, redness and warmth…
Urgent medical attention should be sought if signs appear more serious than this, for e.g., pain is excessive, despite the use of medications, elevation, and ice; the person cannot walk at all or cannot walk more than a few steps without severe pain, and/or the foot or ankle is excessively swollen. Fractures can also occur during severe sprains, and your physiotherapist can advise you when an x-ray is necessary.
Less severe sprains can be handled by self care at home by aiming to reduce and prevent inflammation…Remember PRICE: protect, rest, ice, compression and elevation (see Acute Injury Management blog).
Simple ankle sprains usually resolve between 6-8 weeks, however people often experience residual pain and stiffness in the ankle without proper rehabilitation. The chance of re-spraining the same ankle is said to be close to 80% due to a lack of, or improper rehabilitation. To avoid this and gain complete recovery, seek expert care and rehabilitation of the ankle from a physiotherapist.
Physiotherapy treatment options for ankle sprains
Depending on the results of your ankle evaluation and examination and your specific needs and goals, your physiotherapist will create a comprehensive treatment plan specifically made for you. Physiotherapy treatments may include a combination of the following
- Patient education
- About the condition
- Precautions and injury prevention
- Work or activity modification
- Home treatments for symptoms
- Home exercise program
- Recommend bracing or immobilization
- Recommend walking device (e.g. cane, crutches)
- Kinesiology Taping, Sports taping/Bandaging
- Ice / Heat application
- Electrotherapy & Ultrasound (US)
- Joint mobilization
- Graded Physiotherapy exercises including Balance, Proprioception and Gait re-education
- Formulate a work or sport-specific ankle rehabilitation program
The physiotherapy treatments for ankle sprain listed above will not be provided to you in one visit. Your physiotherapist is your best source for which interventions are best for you, based on your specific problems, overall level of fitness and your goals.
So if you have sprained your ankle already, or would just like to prevent this injury from occurring, pop in to your nearest PhysioPRO today.
Mitesh@PhysioPRO
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Ankle injuries, Lower Limb injuries
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