Ankle Sprain

How does chiropractic help?

Chiropractic care is great for ankle sprains. How does chiropractic help? Let’s take a look at what happens with an ankle sprain. Typically, the cause of the injury is rolling the ankle with one of the following scenarios:

  • Walking or exercising on an uneven surface or stepping in a hole
  • Another person stepping or landing on your foot during a sports activity
  • A fall that causes your ankle to twist
  • Landing awkwardly on your foot after jumping or pivoting
Ankle Injury

Let’s face it….it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out if you’ve injured your ankle after a twist or fall. Foot/ankle pain is an obvious symptoms of ankle sprains. Other symptoms depend on the severity of the injury. They may include:

  • Tenderness when you touch the ankle
  • Swelling
  • Bruising
  • Restricted range of motion
  • Instability in the ankle
  • Popping sensation or sound at the time of injury

A sprain causes overstretching of the muscles and ligaments of the ankle/foot. In addition, it is important to know that one or more of the 26 bones of the foot and ankle can shift out of their normal alignment. Alignment of these bones is hardly ever considered with a typical medical evaluation or treatment plan.

If left uncorrected, these misalignments can contribute to chronic pain and lack of mobility. One study showed that up to 80% of people who get an ankle sprain will experience another ankle sprain. In addition, your body might attempt to compensate for this injury and it could lead to musculoskeletal problems in other areas later.

Effective Treatment for Ankle Sprains

There are 3 grades of ankle sprain. Grade I and II are treated with conservative management. Grade III is the least common, most severe, and may require surgical intervention. With a significant sprain injury, you may need to go to a medical facility to get x-rays and rule out a fracture. Often, you can also get a support brace for the ankle to provide protection for the damaged ligaments and muscles.

Your first line of defense for treatment is to care for the ankle sprain yourself. Usually the axiom of RICE can be followed in most cases.

Ankle Sprain
  • Rest
  • Ice
  • Compression
  • Elevation

Beyond those measures, don’t stop there! Remember that people experience a high re-injury rate to their ankle following the initial sprain. The reason is that the reduction of swelling and pain is not enough to ensure a proper recovery. Recall that one or more of the ankle/foot bones could still be out of alignment. You should consider chiropractic care. A Recent study in the Journal of Orthopedic & Sports Physical Therapy showed that manual therapy and exercise for ankle sprains resulted in a better outcome than just exercise alone. We specialize in realigning all joints of the body, including those of the ankle and feet. We also focus on reducing inflammation, improving joint mobility, and rehabilitating the injured soft tissues. How do we accomplish these goals?

  • Low level (cold) laser
  • Cryotherapy
  • Mobilization
  • Low force adjustments
  • Manual therapy (manipulation) when appropriate
  • Exercises including range of motion, strengthening, and balance training
  • Kinesiology tape
  • Ankle manipulation

Chiropractic care offers the complete package for all your ankle sprain needs. In some cases, more therapy may be required. We have an excellent working relationship with many physical therapy clinics and will be happy to suggest or refer you to the appropriate place, if needed.

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