ankle-sprain physio

Sprained Ankle Treatment: What You Should Know

An ankle sprain is a common injury that can occur to both athletes and the average person. Whether you’re partaking in high-intensity physical activity, going for a run or simply taking a wrong step while out for a walk; ankle sprains are a familiar injury to us all.

What is an ankle sprain?

An ankle sprain occurs when you roll, twist or turn your ankle in a way that isn’t usual. It occurs when your ankle ligaments are pulled or torn beyond their limits, causing instant pain or swelling.

The three red bands you see on the outside of the ankle are the most commonly injured ankle ligaments when you roll your ankle inwards—which is the most common type of ankle sprain. 

The severity of the roll or twist determines how many ligaments are damaged and how badly your overall ankle sprain is. As shown in the diagram above, the different grades indicate the different severities of an ankle sprain. 

Sprained ankle treatment

Unfortunately what happens quite often, is people are given poor advice and education regarding the management of ankle sprains.

If you sustain an ankle sprain, the first thing you should do is call your physiotherapist. It’s important to receive proper guidance early on in the injury to ensure the necessary next steps are taken. 

How we treat ankle sprains

At ISO Physiotherapy, we are well accustomed to treating ankle sprains of different severities.

We suggest using the POLICE acronym immediately: Protect, Optimally Load, Ice, Compression and Elevation. This will ensure you get your ankle back to its full mobility as soon as possible. 

Then, we suggest coming into the clinic to have your ankle assessed so that, if necessary, appropriate rehabilitation can begin. This will consist of regaining your range of motion, ankle stability, ankle strength and normal daily functioning; and is for both those people who want to return to sport ASAP or would like to simply heal their ankle sprain.

Why is rehabilitation important for ankle sprains?

Every ankle sprain is different, no matter how minor; which is why so many variables are taken into account when planning your rehabilitation. Unfortunately many people choose not to have their ankle sprain properly rehabilitated which often leads to many instability-related complications in the future. We see this happen time and time again, so if you have sustained an ankle sprain recently, please contact us and one of our physiotherapists would be happy to discuss the appropriate next steps with you.