Ankle Sprains

Ankle sprains are the most common traumatic sports injury. They are frequently seen in sports that involve sudden changes of direction like soccer, lacrosse, tennis, and basketball. The most common type of ankle sprain is an inversion ankle sprain where the bottom of the foot rolls inward injuring a ligament on the outer portion of the ankle.

Ankle sprains are categorized by severity:

• Grade 1: Minor ligament damage. Mild tenderness and swelling. No major ankle function loss.
• Grade 2: Moderate ligament damage, pain, and swelling. Some loss of motion and balance.
• Grade 3: Complete ligament tear. Severe swelling. Loss of function and motion.

Early treatment of ankle sprains traditionally followed the RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) model. That has been tweaked recently to MICE (movement, ice, compression, elevation). Movement within someone’s tolerance in the early phases of recovery is important for regaining function, limiting scar tissue, and flushing out swelling. Some studies have found alternating ice with heat in what is called “contrast therapy” to be helpful.

When someone sprains their ankle there is ligament damage and frequently a loss of proprioception. Proprioception is awareness of your body in space, and it plays a major roll in balance and stability. Rehabilitation and strengthening is vital for regaining full function an injured ankle to ensure the ligament heals and good proprioception is achieved.

The greatest predictor of injury is previous injury. A proper rehabilitation plan will help prepare the body against the possibility of further injury.

OUR APPROACH TO TREATING ANKLE SPRAINS

Many people in Charlotte have found ankle sprain relief through chiropractic, manual therapy, and corrective exercise here at TruMotion Therapy. Since each person is unique, an individual approach is taken with each patient. Listed below is our general approach at providing ankle sprain relief.

• Reduce pain and inflammation. This can be accomplished with laser therapy, gentle soft tissue work, and kinesiology taping.
• Loosen the joints in the feet and ankles. Chiropractic adjustments are effective at restoring proper mobility in stuck joints, which can improve biomechanics and proprioception.
• Corrective exercise and stretches help restore balance and alignment in the body to help ease pain and prevent it from recurring.

If you live in or around the Charlotte area and sprained your ankle, click here to work with our team and begin finding relief.