One of the most common injuries people face is a sprained ankle. Most people have experienced this affiliation at some point, maybe even more than once. Ankle sprains occur when your foot goes beyond its normal range of movement, whether through a twist or turn, which causes ligaments in your foot to tear or overstretch. Ankle sprains occur daily for more than 20,000 people, and they account for more than 40% of all sports injuries. For athletes of all ages, or adults who are frequent runners, sprained ankles are a common injury that can be greatly helped and prevented by physical therapy.
Because sprained ankles are so common, the expert staff at AICA Atlanta are well-versed in treatment plans that help you treat injuries, reduce pain, and strengthen your muscles and ligaments to restore your full range of motion to your ankle.
What Are the Symptoms of a Sprained Ankle?
You might have had an acute accident or injury that tipped you off that you might have a sprained ankle. Sprained ankles are often the result of overextending ligaments in the foot, so it is highly likely you know exactly when you’ve sprained your ankle.
You’ll likely feel pain at the site of the ligament that is torn or overstretched. It might also start to swell or bruise, and it might be sensitive to the touch. If you hear a popping sound when you try to move or touch your ankle, it may be indicative of a more severe sprain. Be on the lookout for any of the following symptoms:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Weakness
- Inability to stand on the foot
- Throbbing
- Stiffness
- Feelings of instability in the foot
How Will My Sprained Ankle Get Diagnosed?
Your primary care doctor might be able to diagnose your sprained ankle, or you might see a physical therapist right away. If you see a physical therapist initially, you can expect them to examine your ankle and ask a series of questions about your medical history and how you think you’ve injured your ankle.
Physical therapists typically will apply light pressure around your ankle, as well as test your range of motion through gentle flexibility tests or walking tests. They’ll want to know if your injuries extend beyond your ankle to other parts of the foot, leg, or body.
Once their assessment is done and they’ve determined that you do, in fact, have a sprained ankle, they’ll classify it in one of three ways:
- Grade 1 – Mild
- Grade 2 – Moderate
- Grade 3 – Severe
In order to provide the best, most comprehensive care, your physical therapist may recommend additional X-rays or chiropractic care. Recovery time for a sprained ankle is usually 2 weeks to 2 months, depending on the severity. You may feel some significant pain relief after just a few weeks, but it will take longer for the ligaments to fully heal- beyond 2 months, and sometimes up to 9 months. Once you’ve sprained your ankle, re-injuries are common, especially if the ankle did not fully heal from the initial sprain.
How Will Physical Therapy Help a Sprained Ankle?
You should take proactive steps after your injury occurs. The main goal of a physical therapist when treating your sprained ankle is to help it heal completely and faster than it would without any physical therapy. While it can take months for the ligaments in your ankle to heal properly after a sprain, physical therapy shortens the time it would take your ankle to heal on its own.
Your physical therapist will work with you and any other necessary medical professionals to help you understand what movements to do with your ankle and what movements to avoid in order to maximize the healing process.
While the exact movements or exercises you’ll be able to do or have to avoid will vary by the severity of your sprain, all treatment plans aim to:
- Reduce Pain and Swelling – Physical therapists use many different techniques using heat or ice, taping, ultrasounds, electrical stimulation, etc. to improve the pain and swelling of your sprained ankle.
- Improve Motion- Your physical therapist will likely recommend both “passive” movements (like stretches) to help heal and improve motion before moving onto “active” exercises.
- Improve Flexibility- If your leg, foot, or ankle muscles are tight, your physical therapist will help you understand how to stretch them in order to relieve pain and improve flexibility.
- Improve Strength- Physical therapists show you how to properly do strength exercises in order to build up the muscles around your ankle. Some of these exercises may include cuff weights, bands, or weighted lifting.
- Improve Endurance- Physical therapists often recommend movements and exercise on treadmills or stationary bikes in order to help slowly and properly build back your endurance.
- Improve Balance- Balance is a key part of recovery for physical therapists, and they’ll show you how to incorporate balancing movements and exercises into your physical therapy routine.
- Return to Daily Activities- Your physical therapist will give you daily, weekly, and monthly goals to achieve in the safest, fastest way possible. All of the exercises your physical therapist teaches you will aid in your journey to recovery and your journey to return to your normal, daily routine.
How to Prevent Re-Injury of a Sprained Ankle
Up to 70% of people who have sprained their ankles will experience a re-injury. This makes it incredibly important that you implement the exercise and stretches that your physical therapist gives you. If you do not let your sprained ankle heal properly the first time, you are more at risk of reinjuring your ankle. Returning to sports activities, in particular, can hinder your ankle’s ability to heal its ligaments properly. It’s also helpful to maintain a proper body weight in order to avoid putting too much strain on injured ligaments. Additionally, physical therapists recommend the following for preventing re-injury of a sprained ankle:
- Warm-up properly before any running, sports, or athletic activities.
- Wear appropriate footwear when exercising.
- Use ankle wraps or braces as directed.
- Perform recommended band or weight exercises routinely.
- Maintain a healthy body weight.
To learn more about how physical therapy can benefit you, contact AICA Atlanta today.