It is very normal to have sprained ankles and frequent sprains can lead to a swollen, sore ankle, difficulty walking on rough terrain and the possibility of re-injury. The physiotherapist starts with the question: How did the accident happen? Is a high degree of force been involved? What happened next – was the patient able to walk or did they go to the hospital? Is the x-ray there? You may find more details about this at Awesome Physiotherapy Of Richmond Hill.

The levels of pain suffered after the injury show how badly the joint has been affected. Very high levels of pain or pain that does not decrease gradually are bad signs, and in the event of a fracture or serious ligament injury, the physiotherapist can ask for a review. Where the ankle has been damaged, it can be deduced from the pain site and checked by the physio after later examination.

Special questions are asked about past medical history and past accidents, any medications the patient is taking, their level of appetite, if they are losing weight, their quality of sleep and morning pain, normality of their bladder and bowel, and any related family history. This is to relieve the patient of any significant underlying disorder so that it is possible to administer treatment safely.

How a sprained ankle is examined by physiotherapists

Dorsiflexion (pulling the ankle up), plantarflexion (pointing the foot down), eversion (turning the foot outward), and inversion are ankle movements noted upwards on the bed without weight bearing (turning the sole of the foot inwards toward the other foot). In the midst of pain and anxiety, the gestures notify the therapist about the patient’s ability to move and minimal movements provide valuable details about the joint.

Manual ankle muscle assessment is conducted by the physio to check for any damage to the calf muscle, normally on the bed or standing up, leading to passive inspection. To verify damage to the joint structures, the physio gently stretches the ankle in each direction, going on to palpate all over the joint to show which structure is broken.

Protocols of Treatment for Physiotherapy

PRICE, which stands for defense, rest, ice, compression and elevation, begins with physiotherapy care. Protection requires the use of a brace to avoid irregular joint movement and further injury. For damaged structures, rest is necessary and helps the piece to settle without stress. In order to alleviate pain and swelling, cryotherapy or cold/ice treatment is useful