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Are ankle injuries getting in the way of your sport?

Did you know that the most common type of injury in the ankle is a sprain to the lateral (outer) ligaments (also known as an inversion injury or rolled ankle). Whilst it is often thought that ankle injuries only occur whilst playing sport, they can easily be a result of stepping on uneven ground or just turning awkwardly and rolling your ankle.

Quite often we may see an ankle injury as minor and thus not seek any advice on how to best manage it. However, if there is any swelling or bruising in the ankle, or if it hurts to walk on following injury, you should have it assessed by a Physiotherapist to ensure a quick recovery with a reduced risk of re-injury.

When you have damaged the ankle sufficiently to cause swelling, bruising or pain, it is likely that you have caused significant injury to the soft tissue structures that support the ankle, as well as the proprioceptors within the ankle joint (proprioceptors give us information about where our ankle is in space and therefore help us to stay balanced and not trip over our feet!). Extensive studies have shown that whilst the ankle may feel like it heals on its own, if you don’t strengthen the muscles in and around the ankle, restore normal joint movement and retrain the proprioceptors, it is very likely that re-injury will occur in the ankle.

If left unchecked, other joints may also be affected by your ankle injury, leading to further complications and increased recovery time. Ankle injuries can affect the way we walk and can result in changes to the way we use our whole lower limb, which can in turn predispose us to foot, knee, hip, pelvic or lower back injuries.

At Aushealth Physiotherapy we treat patients with ankle injuries daily and get great results. Our Physiotherapists are highly trained in the assessment of ankle injuries and we know, as with any musculoskeletal injury, a correct diagnosis is essential for effective management. Based on our findings and your goals, we develop an individualised treatment plan for you focused on restoration of normal range of movement, strengthening and decreasing the risk of recurrent injury of your ankle or injury to other areas of the body. We are able to refer for X-rays and MRI’s for further information when necessary and liaise with Foot and Ankle Specialists regularly to ensure the most thorough of managements plans, which achieve the best outcomes.Aushealthanklepain

Treatment for ankle pain may include but is not limited to:

  • Hands on (Manual) therapy
  • Exercise based therapy
  • Hydrotherapy
  • Postural re-education
  • Acupuncture
  • Specialised digital biomechanical analysis
  • Sports specific training

Remember, the sooner you get your ankle assessed, the better results you are likely to experience. Our Physiotherapists are very experienced in acute injury management. Treating an injury sooner means that we can limit the amount of secondary damage that occurs and therefore speed up your recovery process and get you back to doing what you enjoy faster.

So don’t run the risk of re-injury. Let us help get you back on the park safely and with confidence. Call 9905 0048 for an appointment with one of our experienced Physiotherapists today.