If you are experiencing ankle pain, the experts at Apex Manual Therapy will identify the problem to quickly relieve your discomfort. Whether you’re suffering from a sprained ankle, shooting pain in the foot, pain in the arch of the foot, ankle ligament tear or recovering from a surgery, we can help.
Our advanced physical therapists have gone above and beyond to obtain the highest level of orthopedic physical therapy training. They are recognized as Fellows of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy (FAAOMPT). This educational achievement is beyond the doctorate level and guarantees you’ll receive the gold standard care for musculoskeletal conditions.
At Apex Manual Therapy each visit is spent entirely with a fellow to provide the best foot treatment and therapy for ankle pain. If you’re in the Pflugerville, TX or greater Austin area, schedule a free consultation with one of our advanced therapists.
We guarantee you’ll see the difference with the Apex Manual Therapy approach.
Rolled Ankle Treatment That Works
Ankle sprains are a common musculoskeletal injury, and if you’re an athlete you’re probably familiar with the injury. You may have self-treated, rested, visited your primary care provider or used a boot, but what is the best sprained ankle treatment approach?
Studies show that if you only rest a sprained ankle it prolongs the recovery time. During the initial injury of a sprained ankle an inflammatory response sets it. If this inflammatory response is not dealt with properly, the ankle will experience further injury. As inflammation takes place, joints begin to stiffen, nerve signals alter and muscle activation is effected. It may be painful to walk correctly with a high or low ankle sprain, therefore a limping pattern takes over. Limping places more stress and strain on other areas of the body such as the knee, hip and back.
If you are placed in a walking boot, it may decrease your pain, but you are only causing more damage to yourself because you’re not addressing the problem. Walking boots are only necessary when all motion must be stopped, such as after a surgery or healing after a fracture. If you are suffering from an ankle ligament tear or sprain, stopping all motion is an outdated approach.
New Approach to Sprained Ankle Treatment
R.I.C.E. (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) has long been the preferred treatment, but new research now shows greater advantages with the P.O.L.I.C.E. approach for sprained ankle treatment. The acronym P.O.L.I.C.E stands for protect, optimal loading, ice, compression and elevation.
Protecting the ankle from further damage. This includes decreasing and altering activity but does not mean halting all movement.
Optimal loading is an important component in physical therapy for a sprained ankle. Ligaments require loading to stimulate their healing process. The proper amount of loading provides a cascade of healing effects that will keep joints lubricated and moving, decrease and flush out inflammation and stimulate new cell growth.
Ice, Compression and Elevation will all help decrease inflammation. Ice will also assist in decreasing pain but must be reserved for the early phases of healing.
Manual Physical Therapy for Sprained Ankle
Manual physical therapy plays a huge role in sprained ankle and sprained foot treatment. Manual therapy is the use of manipulation and mobilization of joints and soft tissue that facilitates an optimal healing environment. Manual therapy protects the ankle from further damage, restores joint mechanics, flushes inflammation, aligns scar tissue, lubricates joints and more.
A study by JA Cleland* in 2013 took 74 people and divided them into two different treatment groups. One group was treated with manual physical therapy and a supervised exercise program while the other group received a home exercise program only. The study revealed that the manual physical therapy and supervised exercise program group experienced better pain relief and improved function. That group experienced a 70% reduction in pain over 4 weeks versus the 39% reduction experienced by the home exercise program group. The manual physical therapy and supervised exercise group also demonstrated greater improvements in function.
Immediate Sprained Ankle Treatment, Quicker Recovery
If you are suffering from a low ankle sprain, high ankle sprain, or rolled ankle, it is important to find a well-trained manual physical therapist immediately. FAAOMPT credentials guarantee the highest trained manual physical therapist. Getting an appointment, the same day as your injury will result in a faster recovery and less overall money otherwise spent on healthcare. Good news, as of September 1st, 2019, patients in Texas can be treated by a physical therapist without a referral, as long as the physical therapist holds a doctorate degree or has advanced training from a residency or fellowship program. This is great when immediate treatment is needed.
Don’t wait, give us a call to excel your sprained ankle recovery.
*JA Cleland et al titled “Manual Physical Therapy and Exercise Versus Supervised Home Exercise in the Management of Patients With Inversion Ankle Sprain: A Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial,” J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2013;43(7):443–455. doi:10.2519/jospt.2013.4792.
