Ankles aren’t meant to bend that way
You’ve just stepped off a curb awkwardly, twisted your foot at training or landed funny in a bout of play and now your ankle is sore and you’re limping around. Sound familiar?
Ankle injuries are one of the most common reasons people visit us at HBF Physio and while they’re often brushed off, they can hang around longer than expected if not properly managed.
What causes ankle pain?
Most ankle injuries happen when the foot rolls inwards or outwards suddenly, commonly referred to as a “sprain” or “strain”, leading to jarring or dull pain. The muscles, tendons and ligaments around the ankle may be damaged or in more serious cases, there may even be a small bone fracture.
Once injured, the area becomes unstable, painful and often swollen. You might find it hard to walk, balance or do the activities you love, and if it isn’t rehabbed properly, it can lead to long-term weakness around the ankle joint, repeated sprains and reduced confidence in your own movement.
Is it a sprain or a strain?
A sprain happens when you overstretch or tear a ligament (the tough bands of tissue that hold your joints together), while a strain is when you injure the muscles or tendons (tissues that connect muscle to bone).1
Both sprains and strains can present with swelling, bruising, pain and difficulty weight bearing or walking, which is why it’s always best to check in with a physiotherapist who can determine the best treatment approach and help you get back on your feet again.
How HBF Physio can help
Our goal is to help you keep moving towards your best quality of life and a physiotherapist-led individualised rehabilitation plan can help you do just that. As with many soft tissue injuries, our physiotherapists can help by:
- Providing a diagnosis to determine whether it’s a sprain, strain or something more. If you need, we’ll refer you for medical imaging like an x-ray or ultrasound
- Providing hands-on therapy, taping or gentle movement techniques to help reduce your pain and swelling
- Prescribing targeted rehabilitation exercises based on your individual assessment to help you rebuild your strength, stability and balance in your ankle. This can include gentle stretch and strengthening exercises that are gradually progressed and supervised by your physiotherapist
- Offering sport or activity-specific advice and education based on your fitness and lifestyle habits
If you’re having difficulty walking, are in pain or notice unwelcomed swelling in your ankle, don’t wait it out. Book online now or phone your closest HBF Physio team for an assessment now to help prevent issues later.
No matter your health fund, everyone is welcome at HBF Physio.
References
1 Healthdirect Australia. (2023). Sprains and strains. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/sprains-and-strains
