Ankle Sprain Treatment Process

TREATMENT PROCESS

This is my current treatment process for patients with an ankle sprain.

1st Visit - Evaluate your condition, review x-rays, and perform a walking evaluation to determine the severity of your condition. Start working to reduce inflammation, reduce pain and reduce stress through your plantar fascia. Many times you will start with a walking boot or ankle brace.
2nd Visit - Will evaluate the initial treatments and if indicated perform an ultrasound examination to evaluate the ligaments around the ankle. Depending on improvement may consider physical therapy.
Shockwave and Amnio Injection - Many patients benefit from a series of 3-6 sessions of shockwave therapy to improve blood flow and soft tissue recovery of the ankle. After these sessions then patients go through a course of 6 weeks of physical therapy. At times to help speed up the healing an Amniotic injection is beneficial.
Orthotics - Orthotics are useful to stabilize the heel position, help with posture and reduce excess movement of the foot that can increase stress in the ankle.
Physical Therapy - Those that need more strengthening go through a course of 6 weeks of physical therapy twice a week.
Daily Rituals - These are the daily rituals that can be used with other office-based treatments. Foam rolling (10 minutes 2x a day), icing or contrast baths (10 minutes 2x a day), anti-inflammatory for 2 weeks at a therapeutic dose (if not doing shockwave), stable shoes with Oofos sandals in the house, and avoid going barefoot.
Cortisone Injection - Rarely do I use cortisone injections to reduce the inflammation but at times is needed if you have severe pain or are limping due to the amount of pain.
Brace - At times I recommend an off-loading brace to reduce pressure to the ankle and lower leg region.

RESOURCES

Shockwave (EPAT) - Information about shockwave therapy to promote the natural healing of your own body.
Amnio Injection - More information about Amnio injections to speed up healing.
Orthotics - Explanation of how and why orthotics help foot pain.
Icing and Contrast Bath Instructions - Here is information on how to ice your foot.
Foam Rolling Exercises - Instructional video for foam rolling.
Oofos - Recovery sandals to wear at home for more support.
Shoe Recommendations - Here are my shoe recommendations and shoe-related resources.