Ankle sprains are one of the most common injuries treated by physiotherapists. They typically involve stretching or tearing of the ligaments that support the ankle joint.
An ankle sprain can be caused by abnormal or excessive joint motion. Many ligaments to provide stability support the ankle joint and a sprain can occur in almost any direction depending on the injury! The most common type of ankle sprain is on the outside of the ankle, and usually caused by rolling on the side of the foot.
Symptoms of an ankle injury can vary and are dependent on the grade of ligament sprain. For example a grade 1 ligament sprain can appear quite mild with only some tenderness to touch and minimal swelling. If you sustain a grade 3 injury, you may present with lots of swelling, an inability to weight bear and instability at the ankle.
During the early stages after an ankle sprain (depending on the grade), there may be a period of rest, icing, compression, elevation and minimal weight bearing to manage swelling, with some gentle movement exercises to maintain range. Your physiotherapist will guide you on when it is safe to start increasing mobility, strength, functional gait, balance and stability, and may begin some gentle mobilizations to the ankle joint to reduce stiffness.
Once general function has improved along with strength, your physiotherapist will support with sport specific exercises; this will usually be around 8 weeks depending on the presenting injury.
It is common to have reoccurring injury to the ankle after initial sprain, even years down the line. It is worth having a conversation with your Physiotherapist about appropriate footwear, return to sporting activities and an ongoing rehab program to maintain ankle strength so you can continue to enjoy the sports that you love!
OK, so you fell and twisted your ankle while doing a hike or playing soccer, and now your foot swelled up like a balloon. You find out you have an ankle fracture and you’re sidelined for 4-6 weeks in a cast. After a while, the doctor informs you the bone is healed, you’re good to go! You get the cast removed, but you realize your calf is shriveled up and tiny compared to the other side. Even worse, it hurts to move your foot, your ankle feels weak, you can’t even put weight on your foot, now what?! Don’t worry, this is normal and VanCity Physio can help... we’ll get you back up on that trail or field in no time. Keep reading…
A broken ankle, also referred to as an ankle fracture, is typically a break in the distal fibula or tibia bone at the ankle joint, which are the bones located in the lower leg on the outside and inside respectively. Ankle fractures typically occur from falls that involve twisting of the foot, awkward landings, and contact sports injuries. Ankle fractures can range from being simple to complex, whether it be just an isolated medial or lateral malleolus fracture or an ankle dislocation with a bi/trimalleolar fracture.
Maybe you stumbled upon this article because you just hurt your ankle and you’re trying to decide if you should seek medical attention or not. Well, you’ve come to the right place! This is a really good question, so good that researchers decided to figure out who should and who shouldn’t get x-rays to save the health care system some money. The Ottawa Ankle Rules concluded the following ankle x-ray screening questions…
In regards to if you possibly have a bone fracture in your foot…
It sucks to be stuck in a cast for 4-6 weeks. However, that doesn’t mean you have to be completely sedentary. Now we aren’t saying you have to lift weights and use cardio equipment with only one leg, but don’t just sit on your butt on the couch for a month! Technically, you can still do upper body exercises and even train your other leg.
Moreover, our foot/ankle is influenced by our kinetic chain, meaning the joints, muscles, and body regions above it! We always preach that it is important to treat the entire body part, not sure the body part that was injured. Exercising on some proximal musculature and joints, including our knees and hips for example can help optimize post-operative outcomes!
With your average non-complicated ankle fracture, a gentle introduction to range of motion exercises in every direction is exactly what your ankle wants and needs.
1. Ankle Pumps
Ankle pumps are a great exercise to start immediately to reduce swelling as well as promote the early range of motion. Mike is using a plinth to elevate his leg in this video; however, at home you can use pillows underneath your foot to elevate it!
2. Ankle Alphabets
With this exercise, early on after the surgery, your full range of motion will not be what it used to be. Do NOT be discouraged! What is important is to avoid compensation early on. For instance, one big compensation we see is individuals will move their hip joint into the internal and external rotation when trying to perform active inversion and aversion of the foot/ankle complex. Really focus on JUST using your foot/ankle joints and avoiding compensatory movements up the chain. Do not fear, movement will come with time!
Ankle fractures can vary in severity from stable fractures that can be managed conservatively to more complex fractures requiring surgery. Physiotherapy aims to:
Chronic ankle instability often develops after repeated ankle sprains or inadequate rehabilitation. Physiotherapy focuses on:
Injuries to the Achilles tendon, such as tendinopathy or ruptures, require specialized physiotherapy approaches:
This condition involves dysfunction of the posterior tibialis tendon, which supports the arch of the foot. Physiotherapy focuses on:
Physiotherapy for ankle injuries is always tailored to the individual's specific condition, rehabilitation stage, and functional goals. It's essential to undergo rehabilitation under the guidance of a qualified physiotherapist to ensure a safe and effective recovery process.
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