Ankle sprains are very common in El Paso, Texas, and this is particularly true if you play sports like football, soccer, rugby or basketball. This type of ankle injury can range from mild to severe, but there are typically three stages to ankle sprain rehabilitation no matter the severity of the injury.
1. Resting stage
The first stage of ankle sprain rehabilitation is to rest the ankle. This means that you should plan to stay off your ankle as much as possible for at least a few days. The length of the resting stage will depend on how serious your sprain is, so you may want to consult your doctor for an estimate of how long to rest your ankle.
Also, it’s a good idea to keep the ankle elevated during this stage of rehabilitation. This is because elevation can help reduce swelling in the ankle, and decreased swelling can also lead to less pain. One way to effectively elevate the ankle is to lie down on a bed or couch. Then, use pillows or blankets to prop up your lower leg so that the ankle is slightly above the level of your heart.
2. Movement stage
After you rest your ankle, the next stage of ankle sprain rehabilitation is typically to start moving around. At first, this will likely involve using an ankle brace and crutches. These devices are important because they help reduce stress on the ankle while you’re moving, and this makes it less likely that you’ll make the sprain worse. However, even movement with limited weight can help your ankle.
Movement helps increase the blood flow, and this will help more oxygen and nutrients get to your ankle and better support the body’s natural healing process. Range-of-motion exercises can help your ankle at this stage, and a physical therapist can show you exercises that can help maintain and increase your ankle’s range of motion.
3. Strengthening stage
The third stage of ankle sprain rehabilitation typically involves you going to a physical therapist, and this stage is the strengthening stage. The goal of this stage is to help increase the strength and flexibility of the ankle and its supporting structures.
Physical therapists can help with this by using manual therapy on your ankle. This category of therapy techniques includes movements designed to reduce tension in the soft tissue of the ankle. It can also involve movements intended to improve the strength and flexibility of the joint itself.
Find help with your ankle sprain rehabilitation at Border Therapy Services in El Paso, TX
Border Therapy Services is proud to offer high-quality physical therapy to the residents of El Paso. Our team offers services that can help treat sprained ankles and many other injuries and medical conditions. We’re able to treat so many issues because we use personalized treatment plans for every patient, and these plans can be built using a range of therapy methods, including:
- Manual therapy
- Kinesio Taping™
- Aquatic therapy
- Strengthening and range-of-motion exercises
Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment to begin your ankle sprain rehabilitation.