First Aid Tips for an Ankle Sprain

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A sprained ankle may sound like a minor injury, but these soft tissue injuries can be extremely painful. One of the best ways to manage a sprained ankle is to perform proper first aid. Here are some tips from the  physical therapists in Woodstown or Mullica Hill, NJ, who work at Woodstown Physical Therapy that will help you take proper care of your sprain.

Rest

The best way to help your ankle heal is to rest it for the first several days after the injury. Take it easy, and use crutches if you need to move around. If you can’t use crutches, get an ankle boot or brace to take off some pressure.

Ice

Ice is better than heat to reduce the inflammation that comes with an ankle sprain. Do 20 minutes of ice every few hours throughout the day to reduce swelling and alleviate pain.

Compression

If your ankle is swelling, some gentle compression using a bandage wrap can help. You don’t want to compress it too tightly, as this could reduce circulation, but mild compression can help keep swelling down.

Elevation

Whenever you can, lie down with your leg elevated above your heart level. Elevation helps promote healing and reduce swelling. The better you can manage the swelling, the more quickly you will heal.

Medication

Over-the-counter pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medications are what our physical therapists in Woodstown or Mullica Hill, NJ, will recommend for the first few weeks of your injury. These can make the pain more manageable and also help with swelling.

Professional Assessment

As soon as possible, get your ankle evaluated by a doctor to ensure there are not any additional injuries to be concerned with. As long as it’s just a sprain, you should follow up with physical therapy at Woodstown Physical Therapy to strengthen and support the ankle. Schedule an appointment today to start rebuilding your strength.

Ankle Pain Can Last a Lifetime

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Spraining your ankle may not seem like such a big deal when it happens. You wear an Ace bandage for a few days, keep your foot propped up, and use ice packs and over-the-counter medication when necessary. While these interventions help in the short term, spraining or breaking your ankle one time can lead to a lifetime of discomfort. Physical therapy can help resolve ankle pain in Woodstown, NJ, for good.

Understanding Chronic Ankle Pain

A recent report published by the University of Kentucky indicates that people who have sprained or broken their ankles are at risk of lifelong arthritis and/or respiratory or heart problems. The study’s authors state that they do not yet fully understand the connection between an ankle sprain or break and heart and lung problems.

When you sprain your ankle, the bones and ligaments become overstretched and torn. You could struggle with lifelong ankle pain if the injury does not heal properly within the first several weeks.

Improve Your Ankle Strength with Physical Therapy

We take a customized approach with every Woodstown Physical Therapy and Sports Rehab patient. During your initial consultation, one of our physical therapists will ask several questions about how your ankle injury happened and how long you have been living with ankle pain in Woodstown, NJ. Your physical therapist will also want to know about your general health, including any surgeries, medications, and supplements you currently take.

Your physical therapist uses the information you provide in the first session to create a treatment plan. Some of the exercises you may complete include a resistance push, balance training, and calf raises, but these represent only a fraction of the physical therapy exercises available to help you recover. Please reach out to learn more or to request your first appointment.