A sprained ankle occurs when your ankle ligaments are overstretched. Ankle sprains vary in their severity, from mild “twisted ankle” or “rolled ankle” sprain through to severe complete ligament ruptures, avulsion fractures or broken bones. Your ankle joint, known as the talo-crural joint, is made up of three bones: the tibia, fibula and talus. Your ankle ligaments attach from bone to bone and passively limit the motion available at each joint. Ankle sprains can occur simply by rolling your ankle on some unstable ground. Common examples of this occur when awkwardly planting your foot when running, landing unbalanced from a jump or stepping onto an irregular surface.
Treatments for Ankle Injuries
Dry Needling
Dry needling is a form of acupuncture that was derived from the traditional Chinese medicine practice of acupuncture thousands of years ago. There are numerous benefits to using the dry needling technique, but the biggest advantage is the ability to reach deep into the tissue. For this reason, it can be more effective than manual massage and relieve symptoms of pain quickly. We recommend dry needling for joint sprains such as ankles. The ligaments and tendons feel comfortable post-treatment and pain is greatly diminished if not removed.
Orthotics can greatly enhance your quality of life as they realign the feet into a more efficient and economical position, making your feet more comfortable. If you often have ankle injuries you may benefit from orthotic management. Our podiatrists at Talaria will undertake an extensive biomechanical assessment to identify any additional factors causing pain that may be addressed with orthotics.