The private Sports Injury Clinic Team at Circle Rehabilitation in Birmingham are here to help you with your recovery from a sprained ankle.
This is what we’d classify as a mild sprain, where there has been slight stretching or microscopic tearing of the ligament fibres. Common causes of a mild sprain are inversion movements, such as a sudden twisting of the foot, which are very common in sports like football. You can expect a bit of swelling and slight bruising, but you’ll generally be able to walk on it. Applying some ice and trying to rest should mean you’ll see improvement in a week or two.
This type of sprain is a significant injury and there may be a partial tear of a ligament. This means you may find it difficult to put full weight on that foot and there could also be quite a bit of pain when you do so. You may also experience some bruising which could go right down to the toes.
This type of sprain is the most severe category and would usually indicate a full rupture of a ligament. This can create instability in the ankle, so the symptoms described above will be far more significant and intrusive. If you’re in severe pain you should see a doctor or your local A&E department to check the ankle isn’t fractured, as tests and scans may be required in the assessment.
Once your symptoms are improving then a gradual return to weight-bearing exercises, such as walking with support, is the next step. A good exercise to do is “heel raises” which is simply going up and down on your tip toes. Squats and balance exercises are also good as this helps to improve the stability of the ankle after the ligament has been sprained.
However, if you’re not showing signs of improvement after 48 hours, then seeing a private physiotherapist for an assessment at Circle Rehabilitation will allow you to get a personalised treatment plan to get your recovery under way.
Having a private physiotherapy assessment at Circle Rehabilitation means a full, subjective background of the injury can be discussed to review the sprain itself and particular twisting movements which may have contributed to the injury. This is also a great chance to discuss your recovery goals e.g. if there’s a particular event you’d like to compete in, as this may affect the physiotherapy programme and the types of exercises that are recommended.
Your private physiotherapist will also complete an objective assessment, which involves observing any bruising, swelling and discolouration on the ankle. They will check movement in all directions of the foot, along with signs for loss of strength and power in particular muscles. The goal is to fully assess walking and functional movement, checking the ligaments for signs of tearing and also rule out any nerve damage. We may also recommend that you have an X-ray or refer you to a private foot and ankle specialist.
At Circle Rehabilitation, we also have state-of-the-art equipment on-site to help with your recovery. The AlterG anti-gravity treadmill is a great way to exercise the joints as it effectively reduces your bodyweight on the treadmill by using a vacuum, which in turns reduces the pressure on the knees and ankles.
The Biodex Balance SD is also designed to help with balance and stability, which may have been affected by the ligament injury.
Your private physiotherapist at Circle Rehabilitation will also see you for regular follow-up appointments to check your progress and adjust your treatment plan if necessary. Typically, follow-up appointments are every one or two weeks, but can be several times a week for severe sprains in the early stages. The team will also provide printed instructions for exercises you can do at home which serve as a visual guide to achieve the correct technique.
