An ankle injury happens when you twist your lower foot and the ligaments on the outer side suffer from the stretching and are torn. The symptoms of ankle injury are bruising, pain and swelling. A physiotherapist can help you identify the root causes of an ankle injury and help treat and heal them. At Clayton Heights Sports & Therapy Center, we offer care and support for all sports-related injuries that you might face. We have physiotherapists, massage therapists and active rehab/acupuncture.
What Does a Physiotherapy Assessment Consist Of?
If for a certain period of time after your injury, you are able to walk, the swelling reduces and the pain disappears, you won’t probably need treatment. But, if the swelling worsens, there’s a chance that you’re in danger since your foot cannot bear the weight of your body anymore. If that is the case, your physiotherapist will suggest you to get an X-ray done. The physiotherapist starts with the proper diagnosis of your ankle and foot. X-rays serve as a way to see whether there is an abnormality in the ankle due to injury of some kind. With the help of ultrasound imaging, your physiotherapist can check the condition of the ankle as you move it. Getting an MRI helps determine the stability of the ligament. The pattern of treatment that physiotherapy follows are: 1. It starts with ample rest to protect the ankle and control the swelling. 2. Exercises to help restore the ankle to its former glory will not include exercises that require you to twist and turn your ankle. Ankle sprains usually don’t need to be surgically managed and can be treated with rest and physiotherapy. Here are some tips your physiotherapist might suggest: 1. In order to avoid stiffness, you should practice early morning and have a routine that includes controlled ankle movements. 2. Next, when you get rid of the stiffness, it’s time to focus on strength. Your muscles and tendons need to be strengthened. This will only be done after the pain and swelling have completely decreased. 3. Lack of balance can cause another sprain; therefore, you need to focus on balance exercises next. Your physiotherapist will guide you through the entire routine. This is an important part of restoring your core strength. 4. To increase the range of motion and improve ankle strength, agility drills are further added to your routine. They will help with endurance. Through physiotherapy, you can recover much better and faster from an ankle injury. Contact Clayton Heights Sports & Therapy Center for reliable physiotherapists today!