Not only are ankle sprains, or a rolled ankle, one of the most common injuries seen across a wide variety of sports and physical activities, but they are an injury that has a high risk of recurrence without the appropriate management and rehabilitation.
While sprains can occur to the inside or outside of the ankle, the vast majority of injuries we see occur when the ankle rolls inwards, damaging the ligaments on the outer aspect of the ankle joint. This occurs due to the relative instability and weakness of the outer ligaments when compared to those found on the inner aspect of the joint.
At Whittlesea Physiotherapy we understand that time away from the activities you love is frustrating, so our goal is not only to decrease the pain associated with an ankle sprain, but to provide a rehabilitation program that will minimise the chance of re-injury.
It is essential that following an ankle sprain you apply the RICE (Rets, Ice, Elevation, Compression) regime to help limit bleeding and swelling that can delay recovery. It is also vital to AVOID any activity that will promote blood flow and additional swelling such as:
- -hot showers
- heat rubs
- alcohol
- excessive weight-bearing
Upon presenting to our clinic, your physiotherapist will conduct a thorough assessment of your ankle to ensure there are no other serious injuries that have occurred that require urgent attention. While the initial phase of management will focus on reduction of pain and swelling, this will quickly move to restoration of proper movement and function, to ensure you are not off your feet for too long.
You will likely be given a program of stretching and strengthening exercises to assist with your recovery , before moving the focus to functional exercise and a return to normal activities.
While the severity of your injury will dictate the speed at which you can move through each rehabilitation phase, it is vital that each step is managed carefully to ensure a full recovery with no complications, and a minimal chance to recurrence.
Don’t let ankle injuries become a common occurrence and hold you back from reaching of sporting or physical activity endeavours. Call our clinic today for an appointment on 03 9716 2250 with one of our experienced therapists and make ankle sprains a thing of the past.