Expert physiotherapist Nadeena Thenabadu was invited to present on Ankle Sprain treatment by Dan Chan – the Flexing Physio.
Ankle sprains are one of the most neglected and undertreated body parts. People will often ice their ankle sprain and go back to sports within 1-2 weeks. The problems that these causes include:
- Ongoing balance issues
- Poor strength of the ankle
- Poor ankle stability
- Stiffness in the ankle joint
- Higher risk of ankle arthritis
Ankle Sprain Physio and Podiatry
Ankle sprains are treated by physios and podiatrists in the same way. We first assess if there is any ankle fractures by using an assessment called the ottawa rules.
Ankle Fractures
With this test we can test if there is likely a fracture in the ankle that might need to be imaged with an x-ray. If the x-ray comes back showing an ankle fracture it is then usually placed in a full length moon boot for 6 weeks minimum to heal. If the fracture is really bad, for example the bone might have moved out of place, an orthopaedic surgeon will need to have a look as well to see if a surgery is needed
Ankle Sprains
Ankle sprains can tear the ligaments in the ankle. Commonly this is the anterior-talofibular ligament (ATFL) or the calcaneal-fibular ligament (CFL). If the ligament in the ankle is torn it can benefit from bracing through a moon boot or ankle brace for 2-3 weeks.
Ankle Sprain Exercises
Exercises for ankle sprains include:
- calf raises
- single leg balance eyes closed on firm and unstable surfaces
- star excursion balance
- plyometric jumping and multidirectional movements
- return to running program
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