Treatment for Ankle Injuries

January 7th, 2009

by Andrew Mitchell

Studies show that ten percent of emergency department visits can be attributed to ankle injuries. The vast majority of these injuries are sprains. Standard treatment for acute ankle sprains is commonly known as RICE therapy. Patients are told to rest and ice the ankle for twenty minutes at a time. The ankle is then wrapped in compression bandages and elevated. Jones compression dressing involves using alternating layers of elastic bandages and compression bandages. Ibuprofen is often prescribed to ease pain. If the patient has a history of intolerance to aspirin, acetaminophen is prescribed as a substitute.

RICE therapy is a short term solution; it does not provide long term care. It simply serves as damage control for the initial injury. Future injury prevention is crucial. Approximately 25% to 40% of ankle sprains are recurrent injuries. When the initial injury receives improper treatment, future ankle damage is likely to lead to either temporary or permanent disability. Osteopathic manipulative treatment, or OMT, is one possible solution to this problem.

The purpose of this treatment is to focus on the patient’s unique needs. The specific treatment given to each patient varies from person to person. It is the osteopathic physician’s job to examine the patient’s injury and decide which soft tissue techniques would be best suited for the job. There are several soft tissue techniques osteopaths can use to manage ankle injuries. The average session lasts for 10-20 minutes. Studies show that OMT sessions do reduce ankle injury pain and many patients experience improved range of motion as well.

There are many soft tissue treatments. The physician studies the bones, from toe to ankle, and decides where most attention should be focused. Osteopaths have many options for ankle treatment. Sometimes muscle energy and strain-counter strain techniques prove useful. In other situations, lymphatic drainage is the main focus of the treatment. Drainage is an important part of the pain reduction process. The majority of ankle injury pain is the result of the fluid that builds up in the joint areas around the bones. This fluid can severely decrease mobility and slow down the recovery process.

Ankle sprains are serious injuries that require proper treatment. Clinicians strive to ensure proper function of the ankle, increase the range of motion, and reduce the amount of fluid that builds up around the joint. Brief OMT sessions reduce swelling and decrease the level of pain. Even a single OMT treatment in the emergency department can dramatically improve acute ankle injury recovery.

Ankle injury is a serious matter. Damage that appears minor should still be checked by a certified professional. Untreated injuries lead to improper healing which can result in long term disability. Luckily, treatment is easily accessible. RICE (rest and icing of the area, compression wraps and elevation) therapy is the first step. A quick visit with an osteopath results in pain reduction and a much shorter recovery period. Osteopath therapy also helps to prevent future damage to the ankle joint and surrounding bones and muscles.

About the Author:

Andrew Mitchell, editor of Osteopath Network, writes articles about, back pain, neck pain and soft tissue injuries. If you are looking for an Nottingham osteopath or for osteopaths elsewhere in the UK please visit the Osteopath Network website.

Tags: back pain, back pain relief, frozen shoulder, health, Health & Fitness, neck pain, Neck Pain Relief, osteopath, osteopaths, osteopathy, physical fitness, sciatica, shoulder pain, sports injuries, Stiff Back
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