THE NEWSLETTER ABOUT YOUR HEALTH AND CARING FOR YOUR BODY Health Tips Newsletter
RECOVER MORE QUICKLY AND COMPLETELY FROM A FOOT OR ANKLE SPRAIN INSIDE : • Why Does My Foot Hurt? • Featured PT (continued from outside)
• Exercise Of The Month • Patient Success Spotlight
How is a sprained ankle diagnosed? A physical therapist can test and screen for ankle sprain as well as other, more serious conditions that could be causing pain and swelling in the region. To provide a definitive diagnosis, a physical therapist may collaborate with an orthopedic physician or other health care provider, who may order further tests, such as an x-ray to rule out other damage to the ankle, including a fracture.
to delayed healing. iv Physical therapists recommend checking with your doctor for information regarding use of medication.
Another traditional form of treatment for ankle sprains has been splinting or rigid bracing for immobilization. The latest research shows that use of a more functional type of support such as a lace-up or semi-rigid brace in conjunction with early exercise therapy is recommended because it provides better outcomes compared to rigid immobilization alone. If immobilization is used, it should be for a maximum of 10 days after which functional treatment should begin. How can physical therapy help? Therapeutic exercise should be started shortly after injury and can speed recovery and reduce the risk of re- injury. iv Ankle therapy includes general range of motion as well as strengthening exercises. This is often combined with something referred to as proprioceptive training. Proprioception is the ability for a person to sense where they are in space. The nerve fibers that give us this sense are impaired with ankle sprains, often requiring retraining to prevent further injury from new falls or awkward positions. Your physical therapist is trained and experienced in choosing the best treatments and exercises to help you safely heal, so you can return to your normal lifestyle and reach your goals faster than if you were unassisted. Let us know how we can help! Sources: DohertyC,DelahuntE,CaulfieldB,HertelJ,RyanJ,BleakleyC.The incidenceandprevalenceofanklesprain injury:asystematic reviewandmeta-analysisofprospectiveepidemiological studies.SportsMed.2014Jan;44(1):123-40. KaminskiTW,Hertel J,AmendolaN,DochertyCL,DolanMG,HopkinsTJ,NussbaumE,PoppyW,RichieD. NationalAthletic Trainers’ Association Position Statement: Conservative Management and Prevention of Ankle Sprains in Athletes. J Athl Tr 2013;48(4):528-545. vandenBekerom,M.P.,Struijs,P.A.,Blankevoort,L.,Welling,L.,vanDijk,N.,&Kerkhoffs,G.M. (2012).What Is theEvidence for Rest, Ice,Compression,andElevationTherapy in theTreatmentofAnkleSprains inAdults?JournalofAthleticTraining,47(4),435-443 VuurbergG, et al.Diagnosis, treatment and prevention of ankle sprains: update of an evidence-based clinical guideline.Br J SportsMed.2018Aug;52(15):956.
By Rachel Braman, PT, DPT
What is the best treatment? No matter the severity of the sprain, the first measures of treatment are typically conservative. Many are familiar with the RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) protocol for use with minor injuries. Although widely used, a recent review found that there is a lack of high quality evidence to determine if this is effective for acute ankle sprains and therefore should be used as part of a multifaceted treatment approach including exercise. Every injury is different, so if icing your sprained ankle provides relief, do it. Use ice every few hours and for no more than 20 minutes at a time. This may not be appropriate for people with diabetes, damage to the peripheral nervous system or vascular disease. More doesn’t equal better in the case of applying ice. Anti-inflammatories, such as Ibuprofen, have also been traditionally used for pain and inflammation control. This has become more controversial in recent years as newer studies suggest that NSAID use may delay healing as inflammation is the body’s natural response to an injury in that it causes chemical signals in the body to recruit nutrients and growth factors to the site of injury. It is theorized that blocking this initial inflammation may lead
YOU DO NOT NEED A DOCTOR’S PRESCRIPTION TO SEEK PHYSICAL THERAPY IN THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA YOU HAVE DIRECT ACCESS TO PHYSICAL THERAPY
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