Question

Research Lateral Ankle Sprain. Write a summary of the injury including MOI, Grades 1-3, Signs/Symptoms, and initial treatment. Write a program for an athlete recovering from a lateral ankle sprain. Include the steps taken for initial treatment of the injury on day 1, through their return to play on the court/field.BE SPECIFIC. Include treatments that you would do each day in your clinic. Include exercises with pictures and/or descriptions of how & why they are performed. The more DETAILED and SPECIFIC you are with your response, the more points you will receive. Include Works Cited adornaner to Canvas Assignment is die on

Answer 1

Sprained Ankle

An ankle sprain occurs when the strong ligaments that support the ankle stretch beyond their limits and tear. Ankle sprains are common injuries that occur among people of all ages. They range from mild to severe, depending upon how much damage there is to the ligaments.

Most sprains are minor injuries that heal with home treatments like rest and applying ice. However, if your ankle is very swollen and painful to walk

Without proper treatment and rehabilitation, a more severe sprain can weaken your ankle—making it more likely that you will injure it again. Repeated ankle sprains can lead to long-term problems, including chronic ankle pain, arthritis, and ongoing instability.

Lateral side Medial side Lateral Ligaments

Description

Ligaments are strong, fibrous tissues that connect bones to other bones. The ligaments in the ankle help to keep the bones in proper position and stabilize the joint.

Most sprained ankles occur in the lateral ligaments on the outside of the ankle. Sprains can range from tiny tears in the fibers that make up the ligament to complete tears through the tissue.

If there is a complete tear of the ligaments, the ankle may become unstable after the initial injury phase passes. Over time, this instability can result in damage to the bones and cartilage of the ankle joint.

A twisting force to the lower leg or foot can cause a sprain. The lateral ligaments on the outside of the ankle are injured most frequently.                              

CAUSE

Your foot can twist unexpectedly during many different activities, such as:

Walking or exercising on an uneven surface

Falling down

Participating in sports that require cutting actions or rolling and twisting of the foot—such as trail running, basketball, tennis, football, and soccer

During sports activities, someone else may step on your foot while you are running, causing your foot to twist or roll to the side.

SYMPTOMS

A sprained ankle is painful. Other symptoms may include:

Swelling

Bruising

Tenderness to touch

Instability of the ankle—this may occur when there has been complete tearing of the ligament or a complete dislocation of the ankle joint.

DOCTOR EXAMINATION

PHYSICAL EXAMINATION

Your doctor will diagnose your ankle sprain by performing a careful examination of your foot and ankle. This physical exam may be painful.

Palpate. Your doctor will gently press around the ankle to determine which ligaments are injured.

Range of motion. He or she may also move your ankle in different directions; however, a stiff, swollen ankle usually will not move much.

If there is no broken bone, your doctor may be able to tell the severity of your ankle sprain based upon the amount of swelling, pain, and bruising.

GRADES OF ANKLE SPRAINS

After the examination, your doctor will determine the grade of your sprain to help develop a treatment plan. Sprains are graded based on how much damage has occurred to the ligaments.

Grade 1: (Mild)

Stretching or slight tearing of the ligament with mild tenderness, swelling and stiffness. The ankle feels stable and it is usually possible to walk with minimal pain.

Grade 2: (Moderate)

A more severe sprain, but incomplete tear with moderate pain, swelling and bruising. Although it feels somewhat stable, the damaged areas are tender to the touch and walking is painful.

Grade 3: (Severe)

This is a complete tear of the affected ligament(s) with severe swelling and bruising. The ankle is unstable and walking is likely not possible because the ankle gives out and there is intense pain.

TREATMENT

Almost all ankle sprains can be treated without surgery. Even a complete ligament tear can heal without surgical repair if it is immobilized appropriately.

A three-phase program guides treatment for all ankle sprains—from mild to severe:

Phase 1 includes resting, protecting the ankle and reducing the swelling.

Phase 2 includes restoring range of motion, strength and flexibility.

Phase 3 includes maintenance exercises and the gradual return to activities that do not require turning or twisting the ankle. This will be followed later by being able to do activities that require sharp, sudden turns (cutting activities)—such as tennis, basketball, or football.

This three-phase treatment program may take just 2 weeks to complete for minor sprains, or up to 6 to 12 weeks for more severe injuries.

NONSURGICAL TREATMENT

Some sprains will require treatment in addition to the RICE protocol and medications.

Crutches. In most cases, swelling and pain will last from 2 to 3 days. Walking may be difficult during this time and your doctor may recommend that you use crutches as needed.

Immobilization. During the early phase of healing, it is important to support your ankle and protect it from sudden movements. For a Grade 2 sprain, a removable plastic device such as a cast-boot or air stirrup-type brace can provide support. Grade 3 sprains may require a short leg cast or cast-brace for 2 to 3 weeks

Your doctor may encourage you to put some weight on your ankle while it is protected. This can help with healing.

Physical therapy. Rehabilitation exercises are used to prevent stiffness, increase ankle strength, and prevent chronic ankle problems.

Early motion. To prevent stiffness, your doctor or physical therapist will provide you with exercises that involve range-of-motion or controlled movements of your ankle without resistance.

Strengthening exercises. Once you can bear weight without increased pain or swelling, exercises to strengthen the muscles and tendons in the front and back of your leg and foot will be added to your treatment plan. Water exercises may be used if land-based strengthening exercises, such as toe-raising, are too painful. Exercises with resistance are added as tolerated.

Proprioception (balance) training. Poor balance often leads to repeat sprains and ankle instability. A good example of a balance exercise is standing on the affected foot with the opposite foot raised and eyes closed. Balance boards are often used in this stage of rehabilitation.

Endurance and agility exercises. Once you are pain-free, other exercises may be added, such as agility drills. Running in progressively smaller figures-of-8 is excellent for agility and calf and ankle strength. The goal is to increase strength and range of motion as balance improves over time.

SURGICAL TREATMENT

Surgical treatment for ankle sprains is rare. Surgery is reserved for injuries that fail to respond to nonsurgical treatment, and for patients who experience persistent ankle instability after months of rehabilitation and nonsurgical treatment.

Surgical options may include:

Arthroscopy. During arthroscopy, your doctor uses a small camera, called an arthroscope, to look inside your ankle joint. Miniature instruments are used to remove any loose fragments of bone or cartilage, or parts of the ligament that may be caught in the joint.

Reconstruction. Your doctor may be able to repair the torn ligament with stitches or sutures. In some cases, he or she will reconstruct the damaged ligament by replacing it with a tissue graft obtained from other ligaments and/or tendons found in the foot and around the ankle.

Immobilization. There is typically a period of immobilization following surgery for an ankle sprain. Your doctor may apply a cast or protective boot to protect the repaired or reconstructed ligament. Be sure to follow your doctor's instructions about how long to wear the protective device; if you remove it too soon, a simple misstep can re-tear the fixed ligament.

Rehabilitation. Rehabilitation after surgery involves time and attention to restore strength and range of motion so you can return to pre-injury function. The length of time you can expect to spend recovering depends upon the extent of injury and the amount of surgery that was done. Rehabilitation may take from weeks to months.

Resistance exercises may be added to your therapy program.

ANKLE SPRAINS AND RECOVERY FOR ATHLETES

                               

Common causes of ankle sprains include inverting, or rolling, the ankle, landing on another person’s foot after a jump, or planting the foot and twisting. The majority of ankle sprains will involve the lateral structures of the ankle, or the ligaments located on the outside of the ankle. There are three major ligaments located on the lateral side or outside of the ankle: the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL), the calcaneofibular ligament (CFL), and the posterior talofibular ligament (PTFL).

Typically, ankle sprains can be graded on a scale from 1 to 3, depending on their severity, with Grade 1 being mild, Grade 2 being moderate, and Grade 3 being severe. Grading takes the athlete’s range of motion, pain level, amount of swelling/bruising, and laxity into consideration. An athlete in considerable pain and unable to walk on the injured ankle, should have an x-ray performed to rule out a fracture.

In regards to treatment and healing time, each ankle sprain is different. The use of ice, compression with an elastic bandage, and elevating the foot above the heart can be very helpful in reducing swelling. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, can also reduce swelling. Heat should not be applied to an ankle injury that is still swollen, as heat may increase the amount of swelling.

If able, the athlete should begin light range of motion activities, such as spelling out the alphabet with the foot or pumping the foot up and down. Once the athlete is able to walk without a limp, strengthening and balance exercises may be incorporated. An athlete should return to full function when compared to the opposite limb before returning to competition. Taping or bracing the injured ankle may also be helpful in preventing another ankle sprain when returning to play. Consulting an athletic trainer or orthopedic physician in instances of injury should also be taken into consideration.