Ankle Sprains
Who
Ankle Sprains are one of the most common injuries that Basketball players sustain. Whether you are a social basketball player or an aspiring Stephen Curry there is a good chance that you have either sustained an ankle sprain or unfortunately one day you will.
What
A sprained ankle occurs when the ligaments that hold your ankle together either become torn or overstretched.
Ankle sprains can either be low in severity which you might be able to play through to full thickness ligament tears or even broken bones!
The following are the main symptoms of an ankle sprain:
- History of trauma to the ankle
- Swelling
- Pain
- Inability to put weight on the foot
- Tenderness to the area
How
The most common causes of ankle sprains are:
- Awkward landings
- Landing unbalanced
- Long term unstable ankles
- Previous ankle injuries ⇒ The evidence says that if you have a previous ankle sprain your chance of re-injury is 40-70% however that significally decreases if the correct rehab occurs.
Assesment and Management
The team at are experts in the assessment and management of all sporting injuries. We will
ensure that your injury is correctly diagnosed through a range of physical tests and if indicated the use of medical imaging.
It is critical in the first 24 hours following injury that the principles of soft tissue injuries are applied. The RICER acronym may be helpful for you to remember.
- Rest: stay off the ankle
- Ice: 20 minutes every 2 hours
- Compress: Restrict blood flow
- Elevate: Above the level of the heart
- Ring
When in clinic, can utilise the following treatments to ensure your rehabilitation is optimal:
- Massage
- Ultrasound Therapy
- Joint Mobilisations
- Dry Needling
- Electrotherapy if indicated
- Taping
- Home exercise programs (strength, range of motion and balance)
- Home management advice
- Exercise rehabilitation in the gym
- Return to sport fitness testing and training on the courts
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