Fall sports are in full swing and you can be sure that one of the most common injuries seen in the training room, our office, or even the Emergency Room has been the dreaded ankle sprain.
One study in the “Journal of Athletic Training” found that ankle sprains accounted for 22.6 percent of all injuries in high school sports. Another study in the “Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery” examining all emergency department data in the United States found a higher incidence of ankle sprain between the ages of 10-19.
The key to successful management and treatment of an ankle sprain, no matter the severity, is timely intervention. We find that all too often, especially in our athletes, ankle sprains can become chronic because the injury has not been managed and treated properly immediately after onset. In fact, although pain and swelling usually improve quickly, more than 70 percent of people who sprain their ankles continue to have problems with them and up to 80 percent will sprain their ankles again (“Journal of Orthopedic & Sports Physical Therapy”). So, what should you do after ankle sprain?
The usual treatment of RICE (rest, ice, compression and elevation) certainly applies within the first 48 hours. However, you should not stop there. Research in the “Journal of Orthopedic & Sports Physical Therapy” has shown that timely interventions delivered by a Doctor of Physical Therapy can be effective and lead to a quicker recovery as compared to control subjects. Specifically, the combination of manual therapy (physical therapist applying physical pressure or mobilization of the joint/soft tissue) and supervised exercises was found to be most effective.
At ProFysio Physical Therapy, we educate our athletes to always take a proactive approach by listening to their bodies and seeking treatment immediately after injury to prevent chronic reoccurrence. One of the worse things you can do is play through pain, especially without proper treatment and guidance. If you or someone you know is suffering from chronic pain, you should advise them to see their Doctor of Physical Therapy.
Dr. Leonard J. Somarriba, DPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Co-owner, ProFysio Physical Therapy
