It all starts with a sprained ankle. A twist, large or small, swollen and bruised or not. The question becomes can I just walk it off? For many individuals with a small twist or turn they may feel they can just walk it off, but…there may be more going on than they realize.

Did you know that with even a simple or small sprain the proprioceptors of the ankle (what helps you stay balanced) tend to be injured some. This results in slightly altered balance, reduced ability to adapt to uneven ground, and the ability to pivot/twist/cut playing sports is negatively affected.

But you feel fine…right? Maybe – you are just unaware of the subtle changes that happened (for the moment). What happens is these changes may set you up for further injury later. Not only that, but the ligaments that make the ankle strong and stable got stretched out some with the sprain. Ligaments do not necessarily return to their original length after a sprain. This means the ankle becomes slightly more at risk for another sprain, and then another, and so on. This creates the environment for more chronic issues down the road. (There is good news to come here)

What can be done?

Well, to begin with…working to restore full mobility via hand-on treatment and self-stretching. Next, the individual will be instructed in a matched strengthening program to help the muscles become stronger and make up for any slightly loss in ankle stability with the sprain. From there, working on ankle proprioceptive exercise, teaching the ankle/foot to balance on all surfaces and rapidly adjust to changing conditions will be implemented. By taking this approach, the individual can reduce the risk for further or long-term issues.

So…even if it seems like the sprain may be minor, it is still worth putting in some effort to help the ankle recover to its maximum capacity. If you have further questions on why this is necessary or what can be done, please fill out this QUICK FORM to learn more.