Ankle Sprains

Understanding ankle sprains

Ankle sprains are one of the most common injuries treated by Physiotherapists. They commonly occur after rolling the ankle and tearing one or more of the ligaments around the ankle joint.

Ankle sprains have a very high rate of recurrence; estimated to be between 40-70%. This is because the receptors in our ligaments that tell our brain what position our ankle is in become damaged and therefore you’re more likely to get your ankle into a compromising position and re-inure it. The high recurrence rate is a big problem as it prevents the ligaments healing and can often result in more severe injury.

Physiotherapists are experts in ankle rehabilitation after ankle sprain and with the right guidance, future sprains can be prevented.

Usually our patients have a significant improvement in pain and function in 4-6 weeks. There may be exercises that need to be continued for some months after this.

What to expect from seeing a physiotherapist at The Pinnacle Physiotherapy Clinic...

Assessment

We will ask you to describe the onset, progression and location of your symptoms to determine which ligaments or other structures might be involved
We will conduct a thorough assessment of the ligaments, muscles and tendons
We will test your ankle strength and flexibility
We will assess your balance and control of the ankle

Treatment

We will develop a treatment plan based on your goals and our assessment findings
We use hands on techniques to treat any joint stiffness or muscle tightness
We will occasionally use taping or bracing if required
We will re-train your balance and control of the ankle using equipment in our clinic
We will prescribe you with home exercises to assist with your rehabilitation. This is a gradual process and needs to be carefully progressed as pain and healing time-frames allow
We will educate you on the most effective and evidence based method to rehabilitate your ankle and how to avoid recurrent sprains