Healing An Ankle Sprain or Fracture With Physical Therapy
An ankle sprain can quickly become a chronic injury, where people spend weeks healing the ankle only to twist it again and have to start all over with the healing process. At Cross Bay Physical Therapy, our physical therapists ensure this does not happen to our patients.
With a combination of stretching, strengthening, and therapeutic modalities, we both repair ankle tissue damage and make the ankle stronger at the same time.
The problem with the ankle sprain besides the obvious pain is that is creates a weak ankle. Weak ankles cannot support the body’s weight and balance. One simple misstep can then cause another ankle twist and injury. By applying Physical Therapy, our physical therapists help our patients strengthen the ankle making sure the ankle cannot possible roll again. We also recommend ankle sprain strategies such as wearing an ankle brace to further ensure the ankle cannot be injured again.
Here are just a few examples of exercises that can help you heal your ankle:
- Balance on a Bosu Ball - A Bosu ball is a round blow up ball with a flat surface. Balancing on this ball with one ankle helps the ankle get used to balancing itself if challenging environments. This way your ankle will be trained to handle an uneven movements you may come across during your day’s activities.
- Calf Stretching - Our physical therapists make sure that the areas surrounding the ankle remain loose. Tightness restricts the healing process and one of the best stretches is the calf stretch to ensure the area surrounding the ankle is supported.
- Calf Raises - Various calf raising exercises strengthens both the foot, ankle, and calf creating a strong environment that repairs weak muscles after the injury.
Icing and anti-inflammatory medicine are great ways to both reduce pain and help the ankle heal faster. If you have just sprained your ankle and cannot walk without pain, it is better to use crutches at first. At the beginning, the name of the game is no more damage. We want to make sure you damage your ankle no further once the accident happens. Wearing an ankle brace is also crucial to success because it restricts the movements of the ankle preventing further tissue damage.
If you have had an ankle sprain, Physical Therapy is necessary to prevent further injuries, which without strengthening the ankle, is highly probable.
Schedule Your Appointment Today!
Call 718-835-0084 and schedule your appointment for Physical Therapy today!
By Benjamin Bieber