If you’re physically active, chances are you’ve rolled your ankle at least once in your life. Even if you’re not engaging in physical activity, walking on an uneven surface can result in a sprained ankle. The most common ankle injury is an inversion sprain. This happens when you roll your ankle outward, resulting in injury to the outside, or lateral, part of your ankle.
Chiropractic care can be effective in treating such ankle injuries. We use a variety of modalities to restore range of motion, increase strength, improve function, and prevent future injuries. Here are some examples:
- Active Release Technique (ART): All of the chiropractors here at Physio Logic are certified ART practitioners. We use this myofascial release technique to treat tight muscles and break up adhesions, or “kinks,” in the muscles. With respect to ankle sprains, the calf muscles – the gastrocnemius and the soleus – are often tight from overuse. We use them to walk, run, and jump, so it’s easy to overuse them. It’s important to keep these muscles healthy, especially if you engage in activities that involve a lot of running or jumping.
- Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Manipulation (IASTM): We use this technique to break up any scar tissue in the muscles and ligaments affected by an ankle sprain. We use a special tool made of stainless steel to “scrape” the area in order to drive flood flow to it and promote healing. The anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) is the structure most commonly injured when you roll your ankle. This is a lateral ankle sprain, and it is the most common injury among athletes. As the structure heals, it begins to scar over. Scraping the affected area can help to mobilize the scar tissue and make the ligaments more pliable.
- Rehabilitative Exercise: The goal here is to restore range of motion, strengthen, and improve proprioception, the mind-muscle connection. An easy exercise you can do on your own right away is drawing the alphabet with your foot. As pain and swelling start to subside, strengthening exercises are of utmost importance, especially for the peroneus muscle, the muscle on the outside of your lower leg. The weakness of this muscle is strongly associated with re-injuring your ankle.
- Joint manipulation: The joints in the foot and ankle can become restricted after an ankle sprain. As chiropractors, we can adjust or mobilize these joints to restore proper motion.
It’s important to get started on your road to recovery from an ankle sprain as soon as possible. Most people don’t report these injuries to their doctor, which can lead to chronic ankle problems in the future. Let us be part of your recovery! Reach out to us by phone or fill out the form below to get you started.
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