Preventative & Rehabilitative Care for Swollen Ankles
Repeated injuries can leave you with sore, swollen ankles. That’s because with the formation of scar tissue comes swelling. As a result your ankle will appear enlarged, and may throb, burn, or tingle. Soon, jumping, running, or simply stepping off the curb can mean pain.
When that happens, it’s good to know, pt Health offers preventive and rehabilitative care for swollen ankle problems so you can get the spring back in your step and say goodbye to swollen ankles for good. Our unique approach to swollen ankles accentuates your own healing process.
pt Health physiotherapy is highly beneficial for swollen ankle injuries because it accentuates the healing process. Think of it this way. If you do nothing about your swollen ankle, eventually ancillary muscles are going to start working that shouldn’t, which is why the pt Health Swollen Ankle Recovery Program is so essential to good health.
Tina’s Story
A Woman on the Run
Teena is a runner and no stranger to swollen ankles. She has run several marathons and always has aches and pains. After all pain is part of the training process right? Well, not necessarily.
“About halfway through my training schedule for a Spring marathon, my right ankle really started to bother me. At first it felt wobbly, and would easily turn any time I stepped off a curb, or sprinted up a hill. So I thought, okay, this is about the time when my body starts to feel the effects of all those miles I have been logging.”
But, soon Teena was finding she had to skip some of her runs because her ankle was just too sore and swollen to do much else than prop it up on a pillow.
Feeling better?
“I took a couple of weeks off, and rode the stationary bike instead of running. After a few days, my ankle started to feel better. Great, I thought. With the swelling reduced, and then the pain subsiding I thought it would be a good time to start running again,”
“Before I got out there, I even went out and got a lace up ankle support. I was so happy to be back out there running,”
But after a few days went by, and many more miles Teena’s ankle brace wasn’t doing much to relieve her swollen ankle. “In fact, my ankle felt worse, because the ankle support was getting too tight. By then, I knew I had to seek treatment.”
Teena Starts Treatment at pt Health
Teena found her physiotherapist at her nearby pt Health clinic, but was skeptical about how they could help. “I felt I had already taken the right steps to feeling better, and nothing had worked so far. I truly wondered what a physiotherapist could do that I hadn’t already tried,” said Teena.
Teena’s Assessment
“When Teena came to see me, she had noticeable swelling and discomfort,” said Darren, her physiotherapist with pt Health. I conducted an initial assessment to test her range of motion, strength, soreness, and gait pattern. Afterwards, we talked so I could ask her about any previous injuries that might have led to her swollen ankle.”
Teena mentioned an ankle sprain a couple of years ago. Since that time her ankle occasionally gave out whenever she went for a trail run. “I knew then that Teena might have some sort of tendonitis or weakness going on that needed to be addressed,” said Darren.
And the Results…
An x-ray with her primary doctor had already ruled out a break or fracture, so Darren was able to begin treatment right away. “We worked on specialized strengthening in order to rebuild the surrounding ankle muscles,” said Darren. “But before we did that though, I also did some manual manipulation, ice, and IFC to reduce her swelling and get some range of motion back.
“In the end, I didn’t run the spring marathon,” said Teena. “But, as disappointed as I was, I can now say my ankle finally looks and feels normal. I am on track for a fall marathon, and feel like I am back to my pre-injury self!”
Treatment Plan
When you visit our clinics, the primary goal is to ensure patients return to pre-injury status, opposed to developing various patterns of movement in order to compensate for swelling. So let’s get started on what your treatment plan may look like.
Phase One : The Initial Assessment
During the first two to three weeks of treatment your physiotherapist will address pain and swelling using modalities such as ice, interferential current (IFC), and ultrasound. The frequency of treatment is loaded to start because this when your care is more hands on.
Next, exercise is an important component of swollen ankle rehabilitation. During your treatment, you can expect to perform range of motion exercises including ankle pumping along with inversion and eversion toe pumps. But that’s not all you will be doing during your swollen ankle recovery program. Once you have regained your range of motion, you will begin strengthening exercises with a focus on core movements, balance, and conditioning.
Phase Two : Pain, Swelling, and Exercise
During the first two to three weeks of treatment your physiotherapist will address pain and swelling using modalities such as ice, interferential current (IFC), and ultrasound. The frequency of treatment is loaded to start because this when your care is more hands on.
Next, exercise is an important component of swollen ankle rehabilitation. During your treatment, you can expect to perform range of motion exercises including ankle pumping along with inversion and eversion toe pumps. But that’s not all you will be doing during your swollen ankle recovery program. Once you have regained your range of motion, you will begin strengthening exercises with a focus on core movements, balance, and conditioning.
Phase Three : Regaining Your Independence
In the final weeks, treatment slowly tapers as it becomes more exercise based and you regain your physical independence. Overall, expect treatment for your swollen ankle to last eight to twelve weeks before you feel better.
Finally, toward the end of your treatment, your physiotherapist will advise you on any future activities to avoid which may include your work environment and sporting endeavors. Following the Swollen Ankle Recovery Program your physiotherapist may also recommend active rest with activity modification.
Find a Clinic
Coverage Options
At pt Health, we know that sorting out insurance paperwork can be time-consuming and confusing. We want your focus to be on getting well and staying well. With that in mind, we do our best to help you navigate through the necessary forms. We speak with your insurance providers and we’ll answer any questions you may have about your coverage.
- RCMP
- DND
- Canadian Forces
- Veterans Affairs
For any treatments that are only partially covered, you may be asked to co-pay the difference at each visit.