Ankle Injuries
Ankle injuries are really common and a huge pain - Literally! Podiatrists are experts in the foot and ankle and at Jessica Dobbs Podiatry we can help you with a recover plan for your injured ankle.
So what is an ankle injury?
An ankle injury or sprain happens when the supporting ligaments in the ankle get stretched, damaged and torn when the ankle is twisted suddenly outside of its normal range of movement, normally from an active injury. Most ankle sprains (85%) affect the ligaments on the outside of the ankle.
An ankle sprain will have:
A lot of swelling, bruising and pain. It can be hard to walk on a sprained ankle and sore to touch. is an acute injury that causes swelling, bruising, pain and tenderness
Ankle sprain and associated ligament for a Lateral Ankle Sprain
What do I do if I sprain my ankle?
In the early/acute stages of an ankle sprain injury, it is important to consider the following:
Rest, ice, compression and elevation (R.I.C.E) for 48 hours
Reduce or modify activity levels to help speed up recovery
See your podiatrist, physio or doctor to assess the injury. We might send you for X-rays if we assess that there could be a fracture in the ankle.
Register your injury with ACC
How can a podiatrist help?
Podiatrists are foot specialists - we are experts at helping to fix your foot problems. When you come to see us at Jessica Dobbs Podiatry, we will gently assess your injury, do a few tests to determine the extent of your injury, and log your injury with ACC. This will involve moving the foot and ankle, finding out where it is sore and sometimes sending you off for more assessments like an x-ray to rule out any breaks.
What are my treatment options:
Strapping or ankle braces to provide you more support short term.
Orthotics and footwear advice to help provide support for your foot and prevent further injury.
Stretching and strengthening programmes to support and strengthen the joint. We will compile a recovery programme for your injury.
Recovery: What can you expect following treatment?
Recovery is different for every individual. It can take to recover from an ankle sprain, especially if you sprained your ankle really well!