| 5 days after initial K tape application | | | | inflammation, this is most important for the first |
| | | | 24 hours |
| I know people that have never completely | | | | * Compression – elastic wrap or sleeve |
| recovered from their initial ankle sprain, because | | | | * Elevate – helps control swelling |
| they never had the ankle looked at by a | | | | * Pain free active range of motion (can use |
| professional. Unfortunately for some, an ankle | | | | slushy bucket), tilt your ankle up and down and |
| sprain will lead to fear avoidance behavior. | | | | side to side, the movement will help control |
| Meaning, they are overly cautious how they use | | | | swelling, will help prevent muscle splinting, and will |
| their ankle, because of fear that the same injury | | | | help get blood to the area (we heal with what's in |
| will occur. This is typically a person that has never | | | | our blood – so eat healthy!) |
| saught care for their once injured ankle, and was | | | | * Cold Laser – Speeds up Mitochondrial ATP |
| never properly rehabilitated. | | | | production |
| Ankle sprains are common, and they do not, and | | | | * Pulsed ultra sound indirect in cold water |
| should not prevent you from returning to your | | | | * Electrotherapy – helps with pain control and |
| sport or recreational activity. Mild and moderate | | | | will also indirectly decrease muscle splinting |
| sprains can be treated very successfully by the | | | | * Kinesio tape – help with inflammatory fluid |
| chiropractor. I've had great results with treating | | | | drainage, will also help restore normal muscle |
| mild and moderate sprains. Any severe sprains, | | | | tension, restore appropriate nervous system |
| where there is absolute loss of any movement, | | | | feedback to help improve proprioception (that is |
| should be referred to the orthopedist. Some | | | | how your body knows where it is in space) |
| sprains can also have underlying fractures, so it is | | | | * Osseous Manipulation – Get adjusted! It is a |
| imperative that a doctor of chiropractic, or any | | | | very safe procedure, and it feels great – give |
| other specialist evaluate your ankle as soon as | | | | it a shot! This will dramatically affect alignment of |
| possible. | | | | your joints, help allow correct muscle tension on |
| After a thorough evaluation, treatment could | | | | the joints, and wil help restore normal muscle |
| consist of any number of therapies. One therapy | | | | receptor feedback ( golgi tendons and muscle |
| in particular, for ankle inversion / eversion sprains, | | | | spindles ) to your brain. |
| is extremity joint manipulation. I find adjusting the | | | | * Anti – inflam nutrition – Vitamin C @ |
| ankle to be quite effective at helping to restore | | | | 1,000mg to 3,000mg per day, 1,500 mg to |
| nomal function to an injured and dysfunctional | | | | 3,000mg of EPA/DHA, Bromalain at 2,000mg per |
| area. When an injury occurs to a joint, the | | | | day. |
| muscles surrounding the joint will splint and alter | | | | * Alternate heat and ice after the first two days |
| the motion of the joint. I have found that | | | | of injury |
| restoring the motion of the joints through joint | | | | * Isometric exercises – contract the different |
| manipulation, profoundly speeds up the healing | | | | muscle of the foot without moving your foot |
| time. | | | | * Continue weight bearing walking |
| After getting the ankle joints and surrounding | | | | * Running in swimming pool |
| joints to a state where they are working better, | | | | * Ice after exercise |
| I typically use kinesio tape to help with drainage | | | | * Toe raises – flat ground – progress to |
| of the inflammatory products. If the sprain | | | | step |
| happens during a sporting event where the | | | | * Balance drills – wobble board, rocker board, |
| athlete needs to participate, I will adjust and then | | | | balance sandals ( this is a huge area and lots of |
| use athletic tape and a local topical analgesic to | | | | different exercises can be done with theses tools |
| get them back in play. So, timing and | | | | ) doing these drills will help you regain your |
| circumstances will also dictate the type of | | | | confidence that your ankle is back to normal. |
| treatment given. | | | | * late rehab includes more balance and |
| Other treatments in the early and late stages of | | | | coordination drills |
| the sprain include: | | | | So, there is a ton of therapies that can be done |
| * Protect with athletic tape, removable air cast, | | | | to fix your once new ankle. This information is no |
| loose lace up support | | | | substitute for a visit to the doctor. Go to a pro |
| * Rest – possible use of crutches, but wean | | | | and get yourself looked at, you will be glad you |
| ASAP | | | | did. Your return to the living will be much quicker. I |
| * Ice – 20 min on, 1 hour intervals to control | | | | gurantee it! |