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Ed-(14/08/2009, 11:50)
Ankle SprainHi,
2 months ago I twisted my ankle while I was playing football. I feel a lot better than I did, but my ankle still gets painful when I play football and it swells up. Can you give me any advise?
Cheers
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Nick Ashton BSc (Hons) Phys MCSP SRP Physiotherapist -(14/08/2009, 14:08)
RE:Ankle SprainHi Ed,
Thanks for your email.
Ankle injuries are really common, particularly in footballers. In most cases the injury is a sprain of the ligaments of the ankle, most commonly those on the outside of the joint. When the ligaments are injured they often become overstretched. The amount in which they are overstretched depends on how severe the injury is. If the ligaments that support the ankle have been torn it can make the ankle vulnerable to irritation when returning to sport, particularly sports that involve running on uneven ground. The ankle joint can then become painful and swell where it has been irritated.
One of the most important things to do after any ankle sprain is regain the natural balance reactions of your ankle joint. Standing on one leg, using a balance cushion or wobble board to further challenge your balance are examples of exercises that are really effective in improving balance reactions and helping the ankle return to normal. Also, ensuring you strengthen you ankle and regain full flexibility is essential. Sometimes, people that have had really nasty sprains find wearing a simple ankle support when returning to sport helps to improve the stability of the ankle joint and reduces irritation.
Physiotherapy management is very successful in determining the extent of the injury and the causes of pain, along with rehabilitating you back to full fitness, so if things persist I would recommend a visit to the clinic.
Occasionally, stubborn cases of ankle pain following a bad sprain sometimes reveal minor damage to the bone. In these instances a specialist opinion is the best course of action.
Good luck
Nick Ashton
Physiotherapist
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