Ankle Sprains – All You Need To Know!
Ankle Sprains – All You Need To Know!
A sprained ankle occurs when your ankle ligaments are “overstretched” or “torn”.
There are 3 grades of ankle sprains, depending on the severity of the injury.
- Slight tearing of the ligament with mild tenderness, swelling, and stiffness (Grade 1).
- A larger but incomplete tear with moderate pain, swelling, and bruising. Although the ankle may feel stable, the damaged areas are tender to the touch, and walking is painful (Grade III).
- A complete tear of the affected ligament or ligaments with severe swelling and bruising. The ankle is unstable and may feel “wobbly.” Walking is usually not possible because the ankle may give way, and there may be intense pain especially on weight bearing (Grade III)
Assessment and Treatment
Treatment options will vary, depending on the severity of your injury. Your physiotherapist will assess your injury and give you guidance to promote optimal healing. If we are concerned by the severity of your injury, we will refer you on to your doctor for further investigation.
Until you’ve been accurately diagnosed, use the following guidelines:
Rest, Ice, Compression, & Elevation (first 48-72hrs) are great steps to ensure that your injury is on the correct road to recovery.
It is important to book an appointment with a physiotherapist. During the session, we will assess your strength, range of motion, walking patterns and biomechanics to ensure normal function is restored following your injury.
We will help to keep you moving, as your ability to move your ankle is often restricted following a ligament sprain. We will use manual therapy techniques for joint stiffness, and massage and soft tissue release techniques for muscle spasm and tightness. We will also give you rehabilitation exercises to improve your strength and function. These exercises will include:
- Range of motion Exercises (foot and ankle)
- Gentle strengthening exercises
- Band and body-weight resistance exercises
- Proprioception/balance exercises
- Functional weight-bearing activities to improve walking patterns and return to function and sport
Book an appointment with an experienced physiotherapist at Maroubra Road Physiotherapy to facilitate healing, prevent re-injury, and get you back on your feet!