Many of us will have experienced a sprained ankle at some point during our lives. When you roll your ankle you can cause stretching or tearing to the surrounding ligaments, resulting in a sprain. Ankle sprains are usually caused by the foot rolling inwards or outwards. This can happen when doing activities such as walking or running on uneven surfaces, climbing stairs and playing sport. If this sounds like something you’ve experienced, you may have questioned whether or not ankle physiotherapy treatment is necessary.
Not all ankle sprains are equal. It’s important to know the difference so you can identify when it’s necessary to seek treatment.
There are three grades of ankle sprain:
· Grade I – Stretching of ligaments, pain and swelling
· Grade II – Torn ligament, increased pain and swelling with reduced function
· Grade III – Complete rupture of the ligament with a loss of function (surgery may be required, though this is quite rare.)
After rolling your ankle you can expect to have tenderness in the area and some bruising or swelling is common. Your ankle may also feel stiff. An ankle sprain will affect your ability to move around normally, and it’s important that you seek timely treatment and rehabilitation to help you return to your normal activities.
If possible it is best to prevent a sprain from occurring in the first place. Warming up exercises can be incorporated as part of your regular exercise routine. It’s important to remember to warm up before you start exercising. Other simple measures such as wearing appropriate footwear with adequate support can help prevent an ankle injury. Braces are occasionally required post sprain.
Treatment: How do you treat a sprained ankle?
If a severe (grade III) sprain has occurred you may need to visit your GP or emergency department to have an X-ray to determine the extent of the injury. Otherwise rest your ankle and avoid movements that cause pain, crutches may help you get around for the first few days. Icing the area for the first day or two can help reduce swelling and a physiotherapist can assist you to apply a compression bandage to your leg to provide some extra support. For the first few days you may also find it helps to elevate your leg (above heart level) when sitting or lying. If your pain or symptoms get worse instead of better then you should visit your GP to have your injury reviewed.
After the initial injury has occurred, a physiotherapist can help you to build up the strength in your ankle again and get you back to your regular exercise. If left unattended, without adequate rehabilitation a sprained ankle can become a chronic injury, causing weakness and increasing the chance of re-spraining the ankle. The team of physiotherapists at our Blackburn and Essendon physiotherapy clinics are here to help with any questions you have. We’ll provide a tailored treatment plan, including a range of strength building exercises for your recovery and to help prevent you from re-injuring your ankle. Contact our friendly team to find out more or book an appointment today.