Ankle
Sprains
By Laurence Schubert APAM
What are
they?
“I rolled my ankle†is an extremely common
line that we hear from all active people. Most of us have sustained an ankle
sprain at some point in our lives. This injury is one of the most common
reasons for an admission to the emergency department.
An ankle sprain is the stretching of one or
more of the ligaments supporting your ankle. This can result in an
overstretched, partially torn or completely ruptured ligament, depending on the
severity of the injury. The ligament on the outside of the ankle, the ATFL
(anterior-talofibular ligament) is the most commonly injured.
It is possible to roll the ankle in
multiple directions, but the most likely is when your foot comes inwards, and
your ankle rolls outwards (inversion sprain). This occurs commonly in athletes
who participate in sports that require jumping and change of direction, such as
basketball, netball and football. Leisure activities such as bushwalking has a
high incidence of ankle sprains as walking on uneven surfaces significantly
increases the likelihood of the injury. The mechanism of the injury generally
is when the foot lands not completely flat, causing your body weight to
continue to roll the ankle in that direction.
What are
the signs and symptoms?
For moderate to severe cases you will
remember the incident in which you injured your ankle. However, in mild cases
you may not even recall when the injury occurred. The symptoms are pain,
swelling and tenderness around the area of damage. The severity of the injury
will determine how much swelling, bruising and reduced range of movement there
is. If you are unable to walk, then you should immediately be taken to have an
X-ray of your ankle.
How will a physiotherapist help?
A physiotherapist will complete a thorough
assessment to determine if and to what degree you have sprained your ankle. A
fractured ankle is also common in severe cases; a physio will ensure this is
not missed during the assessment. Classifying the severity of your sprain will
allow you to have a clear plan during the recovery period. The most common
predisposing factor to an ankle sprain is a previous ankle sprain without
complete rehabilitation.
Following an ankle sprain, you will be left
with weakness, instability or stiffness, reduced balance and proprioception –
which is the awareness of where your body is positioned. Proprioception
training is a significant aspect of ankle rehabilitation. If your ankle is in a
vulnerable position, your body will be react appropriately and ensure your
ankle maintains its position. Other components of physiotherapy will include
strengthening of the ankle, improving range of motion and other biomechanical
impairments.
Your physiotherapist will assist in managing your pain and swelling in the early stages of the injury. Providing you with guidance on how much load you should be putting through the ankle and what strategies will ensure a prompt recovery. As your progress, your rehabilitation program will be tailored to allow you to return to your desired physical activities and decrease the chances of re-occurring an ankle sprain.
