13 Mar Ankle Sprains – We aren’t going to rest you!
HAVE YOU SUFFERED AN ANKLE SPRAIN? CLICK HERE TO BOOK AN APPOINTMENT!
Ankle sprains are a painful injury I’m sure the majority of us know too well. Whether it was coming out of a heavy collision on the pitch, stepping on your opponent’s foot or even stepping down off the gutter, ankle sprains are an injury that can affect anyone, athlete or not. However, what you do after you sprain your ankle will quickly determine how long it will take you to get back to what’s important to you.
Ankle sprains occur when the foot excessively rolls inwards in relation to the shin, causing the ligaments that provide stability between our bones to ‘tear’. The most commonly injured ligaments are those on the lateral (outside) of our ankle, as they are generally weaker, than the ligaments on the medial (inside) of our ankle.
Immediately after the injury has occured, bleeding will commence in an attempt to heal the disrupted tissue, this is where the first of two important steps in getting you back quicker starts! The RICE (Rest, ICE, Compression & Elevation) principles are imperative in the first 48 hours, as well as making that first appointment with your physiotherapist (don’t be scared!)
From the initial consult your physiotherapist will complete a battery of clinical tests, which will help you both set goals that are important to you in realistic time frames.
So now what… you’ve walked away from your first consultation with what’s described as a nasty sprain and a few weeks on the sidelines. But does that mean you’re going to become a couch potato for the next four weeks, absolutely not?! Onto Step 2, a comprehensive, tailor made, gym- based rehabilitation program!
RETURN TO THE THINGS YOU LOVE TO DO QUICKER! CLICK HERE TO BOOK AN APPOINTMENT TODAY !
At Stride our rehabilitation approach emphasises what you can do after an injury and not what you can’t do. You might have one sprained ankle, but you still have one good one, and two perfectly good arms! That means, as we guide you through your rehabilitation program, we still want you in the gym or even on the pitch completing modified training sessions.
There should be no barriers between physiotherapists and their patients, especially due to the fear of being ‘rested’. Some patients may need more guidance than others when it comes to rehabilitation, but keeping you strong, fit and active while you’re injured is our main priority, which should allow you to return to the things you love quicker!
