Why you should not ignore ankle injury?
Have you tripped and rolled your ankle? Initially, it might not seem to be severe. At first, you might get minor discomfort or swelling, but you will manage to walk. You might get back to your work and daily schedule. Your pain might lessen, but it will not completely vanish. Consulting a professional physical therapist Mendham for orthopedic physical therapy can be a great option to completely get rid of injury.
How do ankle injuries take place?
Most ankle injuries are considered sprains. It takes place when the ligament gets stretched or bent beyond a limit. The sudden pressure or routine stress on the ankle can lead to twisting or rolling your ankle. Sprains can lead to swelling and bruising. It might affect mobility. Other most common ankle injuries are:
- Tendonitis: It takes place when the tendons of joints are inflamed.
- Bone Fractures: These include a complete or partial break of the ankle.
- Arthritis: It is due to the stiffness of one or more joints.
- Gout: It occurs when a huge quantity of uric acid gathers in the blood.
What happens if you ignore an ankle injury?
If you have a past ankle injury, you might notice that ankle support and strength have weakened with time. Due to this, you will not be able to place weight or stress on the joint. Also, you will feel pain near your ankle. When you ignore an ankle injury, it weakens the joint and impacts its flexibility. The joint might experience chronic inflammation, which will never completely go away. Apart from this ankle injury can also result in the following:
- Affects the way you walk. You will find that you put pressure on one side of your body. It might result in uneven gait having a rippling impact on the hips, spine, and knees.
- It prolongs recovery. When you ignore ankle injury, the inflammation persists, which prevents ligaments from healing completely and hampers daily activities.
- It makes the joint vulnerable to future injuries, which in turn weakens the ligaments and muscles.
- It develops unstable joints with weaker ligaments, which cannot offer the right support. You will notice the effects when you stand or you play a sport.
- It increases the risk for osteoarthritis, as weak ligaments put a lot of stress on the joint cartilage and lead to wear sooner.
What can you do if you have injured your ankle?
Based on your ability to walk, schedule an appointment with the doctor and seek medical treatment. In the meanwhile, take rest and apply ice to reduce the swelling. With this, you will allow the tissues to heal and begin repairing. If you do not take proper rest, it can develop chronic pain.
Based on the severity and the kind of damage, your doctor might recommend you:
- Taking rest for a few days or a long time
- Using a brace to offer temporary support
- Wearing an air case as the heals
- Physical therapy from a professional physical therapist for strengthening the area at the time of recovery
- Surgery if there is an entire tear or other severe injuries
The physical therapist Mendham at i-Health Physical Therapy can assist you to recover from an ankle injury. To learn about our treatment in detail, get in touch with our physical therapist Mendham to schedule an appointment. Contact us today!