Approximately 25,000 people sprain their ankle each day. The acute ankle injury is the most common sports injury encountered today and is responsible for up to 30% of sports related injuries in young athletes. Left untreated, a sprained ankle can lead to chronic ankle instability, high re occurrence rate, and secondary complications due to prolonged ankle pain. Careful diagnosis with adequate immobilization and early treatment of an ankle sprain is imperative.
Physical Therapy treatment involves swelling control, pain free ROM and then strengthening stabilizing muscles. Restoring proprioception in the ankle joint will help reduce the risk of re-injury. Proprioception is the ability of the muscles surrounding a joint to respond to abnormal positions and situations. For example, when standing on an uneven surface like grass, the ankle adjusts to the surface to prevent falls and injuries. After an injury, proprioception, like strength and flexibility, is impaired and requires rehabilitation. To ensure complete healing of an ankle sprain and decrease the chance of recurrence, be sure to have the sprain properly treated by your physician and physical therapist at Full Motion Physical Therapy.
