Blog Layout

The ("Not So") Simple Ankle Injury

Shane O'Sullivan • Mar 18, 2024

Picture this : you're walking in the sunshine, whistling dixie and having the best day. All of a sudden you step wrong, and your ankle twists. Ouch!

You've got yourself a ‘simple’ ankle sprain, right? Well, not so fast. What might seem like a minor injury can sometimes turn into a bigger problem than you'd expect.

Here's the lowdown: An ankle sprain happens when the bands of tissue (ligaments) that hold your ankle bones together get stretched or torn.

You might think rest, ice, and a bit of elevation will sort it out – and sometimes they do. But other times, there's more going on under the surface.

Amazingly, Once you have injured your ankle for the first time, you have a whopping 47% chance of re-injuring that same ankle in the future! Not to mention 40% of first time ankle sprainers, go on to develop Chronic Ankle Instability (CAI)!

One of the major issues is misdiagnosis.

What seems like a basic sprain might actually involve broken bones or damage to joint cartilage.

An early sign that there might be a fractured bone, is that you are unable to walk for 4 steps at the time of injury.

If your swelling persists > 5-7 days, and the whole joint is ‘fat’ , there could be a chance that you have damaged the cartilage.

If these more serious problems aren't recognised early & treated properly, they can lead to ongoing pain, swelling and trouble moving your ankle.

Then there's the rehab part.

Even after the pain & swelling fades, it's crucial to do exercises to strengthen and stabilise your ankle. Skipping this step could mean you're more likely to sprain it again in the future.

A rehab program will have multiple objectives:

1. Reduce swelling

2. Restore normal movement

3. Re-gain muscle strength

4. Re-gain balance & stability

5. Restore functional requirements – for example, running, sprinting & change of direction.

As with any rehab program, the type of exercises involved & the time it takes to get back to doing the things that you love, is a lesson in horses for courses!

Say you’re an avid hiker in the rough terrain of the hinterlands. We need to design your program to include a lot of training on rugged and unpredictable surfaces.

If you’re a field -based athlete who must stop on a dime and change direction, then we need to work on a lot of fast hopping and landing drills.

If you’re just a casual walker through the park 4 days per week, then we can work on some moderate level balance and stability and the length of the program will naturally be shorter.

And let's not forget about the mental toll. If you keep spraining your ankle, it can mess with your confidence and stop you from being as active as you'd like – which isn't great for your overall health.

Long story short: Ankle sprains might seem like no big deal, but they can cause serious trouble if you don't take care of them properly.

So, next time you twist your ankle, don't just shrug it off. Give it the attention it deserves to avoid bigger problems down the road.

Come in to see our expert clinicians and get a comprehensive rehab program tailored to your needs.

Early assessment & intervention is the key!

< Older Post

Anterior Knee Pain

By Shane O'Sullivan • 26 Feb, 2024

Do you get pain at the front of your knee? Walking downstairs? Sometimes you feel like you have to go down sideways ! When you’re hiking…… Especially when you have to go downhill? Playing sport…. Especially when you have to do a lot of short stop and start type movements?

ACL Injury - Do I need surgery?

By Shane O'Sullivan • 30 Jan, 2024

So, you have done your ACL. You felt the pop, your knee collapsed and the pain was excruciating for the first 30 seconds. You hobble off the field, and thoughts start rushing through your mind… Oh no I'm going to need surgery! How much will it cost me? How long will I be ou t for?

Adhesive Capsulitis

By Jacob Jewson • 24 Oct, 2023

Adhesive capsulitis , or frozen shoulder , is a condition that affects the capsule/lining of the shoulder joint. It occurs most commonly in people aged 40-60 and while it can result from an injury or surgery to the shoulder, in the majority of cases there is no obvious cause. The condition involves inflammation and scarring of the shoulder joint capsule. The inflammation causes pain, particularly at night, while the scarring results in reduced range of motion in the shoulder joint as the capsule tightens. Then if the shoulder is pushed into extreme positions, the scar tissue becomes irritated, causing more discomfort. While there is often no cause, adhesive capsulitis occurs more commonly in people with diabetes and other systemic inflammatory diseases, so it may be worth performing some blood tests if these haven’t been done previously. Imaging with an X-ray and ultrasound (or sometimes an MRI) is not always essential as adhesive capsulitis can be diagnosed based on symptoms and clinical tests, but may be performed to ensure there is not another diagnosis to explain the symptoms. Adhesive capsulitis has a natural history of resolution after typically 12-24 months. It is characterised by 3 phases: freezing, frozen and thawing phase. The freezing phase is often the most painful, as the inflammation causes progressive pain and loss of range of motion. The duration of symptoms is often unchanged by treatments, however the goal of management strategies is to reduce pain and improve function during the course of the condition.

The Winning Advantage: 5 Reasons to Consult a Sports Physician

By Shane O'Sullivan • 19 Sep, 2023

Whether you're training for the Melbourne marathon, a dedicated athlete or just someone who enjoys staying active, the guidance of a sports physician can be a game-changer! Our very own Dr Jacob Jewson offers a unique set of skills and insights that can enhance your performance, prevent injuries, and keep you in peak condition.

Management of Achilles Tendon Ruptures

By Ruby Elder • 30 May, 2023

What is an Achilles Tendon rupture?

Jaw Pain Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD)

By Sue Gertzel • 11 Apr, 2023

Does the thought of biting into a hard apple give you goose bumps? The constant clicking and pain that occurs when you bite is enough to turn you off hard fruit - For life! & Don't even talk about yawning......

The truth behind why we don't need to stretch in our warm ups!

By Shane O'Sullivan • 14 Mar, 2023

Stretching has long been considered a vital component of a proper warm-up before physical activity..... However, recent studies suggest that stretching may not be as effective as once thought for injury prevention , especially when done before exercise!