City Rehab, a Liverpool Based Sports Rehab Clinic Give Us the Low Down On Ankle

Posted by cityrehab on October 15th, 2014

The Ankle sprain is a common injury amongst athletes and non-athletes alike. Ask any therapist and they’ll agree that these are the most common type of sprain in patients; especially those who play weight bearing sports. Most people luckily can simply walk them off with the self-management of PRICE (protect, rest, ice, compression and elevation) if used within the initial stages. It must be noted however, there is a huge difference between mild ankle sprains and severe ankle sprains and incorrect management can easily turn the usual recovery time of three to four months into twelve to eighteen months. To find out more we went to City Rehab, a Liverpool Based Sports Rehab clinic who see and treat this injury on a regular basis.

Once cleared of any fractures, severe ankle sprains will typically present with the following conditions; significant swelling, pain, lack of any normal movement in the ankle or foot and inability to run or even walk without pain. As with most injuries the first week of rehabilitation is crucial and a clear concise diagnosis must be reached. City Rehab goes on to explain that if weight bearing can be tolerated then rehabilitation through PHYSIOTHERAPY at their LIVERPOOL clinic can begin. If weight bearing cannot be tolerated then this would suggest significant damage. For this to be addressed then weight bearing must be slowly re-introduced. Each step should be introduced at the correct time. This may be increasingly frustrating for athletes as they wish to return to sports sooner rather than later but it should be noted that rushing such treatment will inevitably lead to further damage and even longer recovery time.

Rehab for ankle sprains first begins with management of any swelling and isolated range of motion in the pain free range. Getting the ankle moving is key to managing the swelling. PRICE will of course help with this initially but kinesiology taping can help further in this area by increasing swelling dissipation. Further progression with rehabilitation focuses on introducing instability such as wobble boards. This helps stimulate the neuromuscular control systems. Therapy should be functional and sports specific as soon as full weight bearing can be achieved. When the patient returns to normal walking/running then strapping and taping can assist in supporting the joints and muscles. A word of warning however, some become almost reliant on strapping even when the pain has long since dissipated. Some find it habitual or part of a superstition and this should not be encouraged.

If you’re looking for a LIVERPOOL based SPORTS Rehab clinic then look no further than City Rehab. Established for over eight years, City Rehab is a unique injury and physiotherapy clinic. Offering an elite level of injury care and pain management that will have you back to your best in the quickest time possible.