Ankle Sprain

Have you ever rolled your ankle? This is a common injury within sports and in everyday life! Stepping off a curb wrong or getting tackled wrong in a sports game, we treat these the same way. When an ankle sprain occurs the ligaments and tendons in the ankle can become overstretched and can become weak. The main ligament that is usually affected is the anterior tibiofibular ligament and is diagnosed with grade, 1-3 by severity level.
 
Grade 1: Ankle presents with a little tenderness and can be swollen.
Grade 2: Ankle has moderate tenderness, decreased range of motion, and some instability.
Grade 3: Ankle presents with significant swelling, tenderness, and severe instability.
 
Treatment for ankle sprains differ depending on severity. In the office, soft tissue work would be the first treatment. This can include icing, KT tape for swelling, and slight stretching to help mobilize the joint. As pain and swelling decrease, strengthening exercises will be introduced to help regain stabilization during later treatments
 
Ankle sprains should be treated as soon as possible to avoid other side effects that may happen. If an ankle has been injured, putting pressure on that foot will hurt which can increase the chance of limping. If limping is occurring, there is a possibility for other areas to be in pain. In some cases there can be knee pain, hip pain, and even back pain that can occur.