"One Ankle Sprain? Chronic Ankle Sprains? What Should I Do?"

Whether it’s going for a run, walking around the house, or playing competitive sports, many of us deal with sprained ankles off and on. Common treatment includes wearing ankle braces and icing, but is this the best long-term answer?

Probably not.

Recent research is suggesting putting weight on these tendons and ligaments may be of more long-term benefit than immobilization/wearing a brace. “Loading” tissue alone is an analgesic, or endogenous pain-killer, meaning your brain can block it’s own pain signals (1, 2, 3). Proper loading strategies applied with the correct amount of pressure in a rational, controlled sequence can create tissue adaptation.

What Common Conditions can be treated with simple, predictable loading strategies?

1. Plantar Fasciitis

2. Tennis Elbow

3. Achilles Tendinitis

4. Ankle Sprains (acute or chronic)

5. Muscle Strains/Pullls (hamstring, calf, etc.)

6. ACL/MCL/PCL and many other ligament injuries

These are just a few of the most common conditions we treat in our office with loading strategies, but most tendon and ligament injuries will respond well if only strained, sprained, or partially torn. I always discuss other treatment options available, including short-term treatments that may help decrease pain, and long-term treatment options (4-12 weeks, typically) that may resolve these conditions.

If you or someone you know could benefit from treatment for one of these common conditions, give us a call at 715.743.3600 or find a provider near you!

References:

1. Naugle et al (2012)

2. Vaeghter (2015)

3. Rio et al (2015)

#Anklesprain #ankle #musclestrain #rolledankle #basketball #running