Ankle sprains are very severe injuries that could cause life-lasting problems. Sometimes people may experience acute or repeated pain and itching after spraining an ankle joint. The most significant symptom after injuring an ankle is apprehension to do certain activities and moving the ankle in a certain way fearing the same injury again. However, they still think that rehabilitation and treatment is not necessary for finding relief from ankle sprain, and believe that it will go away with time. However, this is not the case.
Rehabilitation exercises are necessary and help the ankle to heal completely. Physiotherapy is an effective treatment for ankle sprain. It can bring relief, speeds up the recovery process, and reduces the chances of its re-occurrence.
In this blog, we’re going to see how physiotherapy can help reduce pain & gets you back to a healthy lifestyle.
What is an Ankle Sprain?
An ankle becomes sprained when ligaments are stretched beyond its natural length and forces are absorbed by secondary stiffening structures, such as surrounding muscles and joint capsule. Symptoms may include pain, swelling, bruises, and limping on the feet.
In a typical ankle sprain, when there is no fracture, the injury caused to the ligament and support tissue will cause inflammation of the ankle tissues and less stability.
Once the initial swelling and pain has been controlled it will be important to strengthen and retrain the muscles around ankles to improve stability of the joints and prevent future injury.
Symptoms of Ankle Sprain
Ankle sprain is caused by incidents, such as foot rolling or stepping down wrong from a step or walking on uneven ground. This leads to pain and swelling in the affected area, and creates difficulty in walking. The pain also leads to disruption in the muscles. It is very commonly seen in people who are involved in sports.
How do you avoid a sprain on your ankle?
If you’ve sprained your ankle, you can understand the severity of the injury that makes walking extremely hard. Hence, it is best to prevent it to avoid problems later on.
To avoid having a repetitive ankle sprain, you should be wearing supportive shoes and you shouldn’t wear high heels or shoes with flat soles if possible. Avoid or minimize all activities in which swelling or pressure peaks. Try an ice soak to find out if that is a solution. If swelling persists, elevate the ankle and do some ankle pumping if possible. It is best to see your doctor or a physiotherapist for proper guidance and treatment.
Physiotherapy Treatment for Ankle Sprains
Physiotherapy treatment involves a series of steps to help you find relief from the pain and discomfort of an ankle sprain.
Strengthening Exercises
A physiotherapist will recommend strengthening exercises to help you regain movement at the ankle and strengthen the muscles around it. These exercises are also known as neuromuscular exercises.
When you are having an ankle sprain, regaining the complete range of motion is necessary. In addition, you need to reduce the pain to get back to living a normal life and perform daily activities smoothly. For this, physiotherapists may mobilise around your ankle joint and soft tissues to reduce swelling or muscle tightness.
Taping & Bracing
Besides exercising, taping and bracing the ankle can help. When you get back to performing your everyday activities, they will support your muscles and ligaments, and provide you confidence to use your ankles for full functioning.
Get Started with Physiotherapy with us!
Once you have ruptured your ankle your chances of re-injuring become higher. So, you must get timely treatment to avoid any further complications.
At Proremedy Physiotherapy, a sprained ankle is one of the most common ankle injuries we help to treat. We can offer a program that allows you to return your ankle function. Our physiotherapists will apply treatments to relieve pressure and protect your injured ankle from weight-bearing activities.
The time required for recovery is different for each patient as healing of the ligaments usually takes 4 or 6 weeks, but swelling might be present for several months.
Taking definite action to rehabilitate your ankle will help you heal faster and will prevent future sprains. Get your ankle checked by our expert physiotherapists and take precautions to stay safe.
