Have you suffered an ankle sprain during one of Toronto’s icy winters or while enjoying all the activities the city of Toronto has to offer? Now you might ask your self do I need physiotherapy for an ankle sprain?
An Ankle sprain is one of the most common sports-related injuries that a physiotherapist will see. Ankle sprains happen when the ligaments of your ankle are overstretch and/or torn. Most ankle sprains are the result of your foot rolling inward; this is called an inversion sprain.
Inversion ankle sprains result in the stretching or tearing of the ligaments on the outside of your ankle. Of the three main ligaments on the outside of your ankle joint, the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL), is most likely to be injured. Though the calcaneofibular ligament (CFL) and posterior talofibular ligament (PTFL) can also be involved.
High ankle sprains, involving the ligaments between your two lower leg bones, or eversion sprains, involving the ligaments on the inside of your ankle, can occur when you roll your foot outward and/or excessively bend it upward. Although, these are not as common and are more likely to include an accompanying bone fracture.
Do I Need Physiotherapy For An Ankle Sprain?
No matter the type of ankle sprain, the vast majority of ankle sprains cause excessive pain, swelling, and bruising around the ankle joint. Seeking out good Toronto physiotherapy for an ankle sprain right away will help control the pain and swelling. Physiotherapy for an ankle sprain will start with ice, elevation, and gentle wrap of the sprained ankle. They will also perform an examination to determine whether you should have an x-ray to rule out a fracture, the grade of sprain (grades 1-3), and which structures were involved. When going for physiotherapy for an ankle sprain a physiotherapist will be able to give you a set of exercises to perform and advice on which movements should be avoided.
After the pain, swelling, and bruising have diminished many people think their ordeal is over. However, that is not the case. Failure to properly strengthen the ankle following a sprain will cause the ankle to remain weak, increasing the likelihood of a repeat sprain.
The risk of re-injury is highest in the first year following the initial sprain, and about half of recurrent ankle sprains result in chronic pain and disability. This is why getting proper physiotherapy for an ankle sprain is very important.
If you have suffered an ankle sprain we can get you back to an active lifestyle as quickly and safely as possible using a highly effective manual therapy approach combined with specific exercises. A highly skilled manual therapy approach to physiotherapy for an ankle sprain will help to ensure that full ankle mobility is restored as quickly as possible. Adding manual therapy to a personalized exercise program is essential to full recovery.
If you live in the Toronto area and have recently suffered an ankle sprain or have recurrent ankle sprains, contact us by sending us an email or giving us a call or text at 416-660-4187 to find out more about our approach to physiotherapy for an ankle sprain can get you back to your active lifestyle quickly.
