Ankle Sprains
An ankle sprain is the most common sporting injury, most people have either experienced or know someone that has experienced an ankle sprain. Surprisingly, many people do not seek appropriate management following an ankle sprain which can impair our long-term balance, stability and mobility of the ankle joint.
What is an Ankle Sprain?
A sprained ankle is an injury when the ligaments that support your ankle get stretched or torn. These injuries occur when the ankle moves outside its normal range of motion.
The most common type of ankle sprains are the lateral ligaments on the outside of your ankle, making up approx. 85% of ankle sprains.
What are the types of Ankle Sprains?
There are 3 types of ankle sprains based on how much ligament damage has occurred:
Grade 1 (Mild): Slight stretching and damage to the fibers of the ligament. Minimal swelling & tenderness with mild impact of function
Grade 2 (Moderate): Partial tear of the ligament. Moderate swelling, pain and tenderness with decreased range of motion and instability.
Grade 3 (Severe): Complete rupture of the ligament. Severe impairment with significant swelling, pain, loss of function and marked instability.
What are the Symptoms of an Ankle Sprain?
The signs and symptoms of an ankle sprain can vary widely depending on the type and severity of the injury including:
Pain especially when standing on the affected foot
Tender to touch the ankle
Bruising & swelling
Limited range of motion and instability
Previous history of ankle injuries or instability
Clinical Examination:
An ankle sprain is a complex injury that can involve multiple structures, therefore a full foot and ankle assessment is recommended.
The assessment of the injured ankle involves taking a past medical history, identifying the mechanism of injury, gait analysis, palpating the affected structures and assessing the range of motion and strength of the ankle joint. Some specific tests that your therapist may perform include:
Anterior Drawer Test: Tests the Anterior Talofibular Ligament
Talar Tilt Test: Tests the Calcaneofibular Ligament
Posterior Drawer Test: Tests the Posterior Talofibular Ligament
Squeeze Test: Tests for a Syndesmosis injury
The most commonly injured ligament is the Anterior Talofibular Ligament. If the force is more severe than the Calcaneofibular Ligament & Posterior Talofibular Ligamnet can also be damaged.
How can we help?
The recurrence rate of first-time lateral ankle sprains is as high as 70%, so it is important to seek guidance to ensure an optimal recovery.
Our team of therapists play an important role in the management of ankle sprains to decrease pain and swelling, and protect the joint and its ligaments from further damage. The key to therapy is to restore functional movement and stability of the ankle joint to prevent further injury.
We recommend seeing a Therapist within the first 48 hours of an ankle sprain so that we can thoroughly assess the ankle and determine the grade of the sprain.
Most ankle sprains heal within 2-6 weeks but severe sprains may take as long as 12 weeks. A comprehensive rehabilitation program minimises the risk of re-injury and can significantly improve the stability and mobility of the ankle joint.
Common treatments include the following:
Strengthening Exercises
Foot & Ankle Mobilisation’s
Balance & Proprioceptive Training
Return to Activity-Specific Training
Ankle Taping & Bracing
Orthotic Therapy
Footwear Advice
