Ankle Sprain Treatments

Diagnosis and Treatment of Sprains in Your Ankle

Ankle sprains can be a painful nuisance, but some are a lot more serious than others. Here at Bowden Family Spine and Sport, we'll want to determine the severity of your sprain and direct our treatments accordingly.

In general, a sprain is any injury that stretches or tears your ligaments. In the ankle, the injury may be on either side of the joint, in the interior or the exterior. It may be an inversion sprain or an eversion sprain.

Ankle Sprain Grades

Your doctor or our chiropractor will diagnose your sprain and categorize it along an accepted, graded scale.

Grade 1 Ankle Sprain - Here the ligaments are stretched but not torn. You may feel discomfort when jumping, jogging, or sometimes when walking. Any pain is usually mild and there is little if any swelling. Your joint may feel stiff and be a little less stable than what you're used to.

Grade 2 Ankle Sprain - These are the most common sprains we see. The ligament is partially torn and can be quite uncomfortable. Walking is difficult, the joint is moderately painful, and the sprain can make the ankle difficult to use. You will see noticeable swelling and bruising.

Grade 3 Ankle Sprain - A severe sprain that completely tears the ligament, this injury is accompanied by serious pain and swelling. The tear leaves the joint unstable and very hard to use.

Count on Us to Help Speed Up Your Ankle's Recovery

Although used extensively when we walk, run, or just stand, ankles heal when they get the right amount of rest and proper treatment. Our chiropractor will help you by reducing the pain and speeding up your recovery.

Patients report experiencing less pain when they add chiropractic care to their treatment program. We also will focus on improving your mobility and range of motion, so you can get back to your normal life as quickly as possible.

Expect Ankle Adjustments and Strengthening Exercises

Chiropractors adjust more than spines. Manipulation of the bones, ligaments, and tendons in your ankle can restore them to their proper position and help healing.

Improving your ankle's strength and mobility can be achieved through exercises, including stability training on a wobble board. Drawing on a board with a marker held in your toes is also surprisingly therapeutic!