Yes.

That’s the very short answer. According to the National Association of Athletic Trainers, ankle injuries, including sprains, are very often undertreated. Ignoring treatment, including excessive movement of the ankle through unnecessary walking, leads to a greater risk of worsening the injury. In turn, this can prolong pain and cause problems in other areas of the body due to compensatory changes in your mechanics. 

If you have been diagnosed with a sprained ankle, you should take treatment seriously and never try to just “walk it off.” Rest and elevation are important parts of the healing process for ankle sprains, and you should not return to full activity until you have been cleared by a doctor or other medical professional. 

Physical therapy can be a very important element of a treatment program for ankle sprains, helping you get back into action as quickly as possible. Take a moment to get a better understanding of how a physical therapist can help treat your sprained ankle. If you have any questions, we welcome you to reach out to a member of our dedicated team. 

How physical therapy makes a sprained ankle better

Sprained ankles are often due to accidents like missing a step and rolling on your ankle while running, but there can also be postural and mechanical factors that play a role. That’s why physical therapists are trained to perform movement, balance and posture tests to identify any contributors to your injury. 

A treatment program for a sprained ankle will typically consist of the following: 

• Stability and balance training to help you move in a way that reduces ankle stress
• Strengthening exercises for the muscles, tendons and ligaments in the ankles
• Manual therapy to increase blood flow to the area and relieve tension
• Range-of-motion exercises and stretches to gently encourage ankle flexibility

Again, it’s important to stress the role of patience in the sprained ankle treatment process. Trying to rush back into action before the injury has properly healed puts you at a much higher risk of prolonging the injury. 

Sprained ankle treatment at Rehab Access

We’re committed to providing individualized care that offers a return to a healthy and active lifestyle for everyone who comes to us seeking relief for conditions including ankle sprains. Schedule your initial appointment and start your journey toward relief by contacting us today.