Ever stepped off a curb incorrectly?

Have you ever “rolled” your ankle? Chances are that you have, because what is commonly referred to as a “rolled ankle” or ankle sprain is one of the most common injuries that people experience. Once an ankle is sprained the chances that someone will sprain it again are raised dramatically. Fortunately there are steps that you can take in order to get back on your feet.
First let’s talk about what happens when you “roll” your ankle. That pulling or “pop” you feel is damage to the ligaments that maintain the stability of your ankle. There are numerous ligaments that allow your ankles to remain stable and although a sprained ankle sounds like an injury that is not severe, sprain defines the type of injury, not the severity. Sprains can be anywhere from minimal damage to a complete rupture (or tear) of the involved tissues. Do not neglect seeking professional help for your injury, because you think that it is “just a sprain.”
Your next thoughts might be one of two things: 1. I have sprained my ankle plenty of times and I’m always fine after a couple of days. 2.All I need to do is rest. One of the primary reasons for recurrent ankle sprains is neglecting the proper healing process. While rest does have a role in the initial stages, in order to properly prepare the tissues of the ankle for the demands that they will face after injury a gradual return to activity and structured rehab plan is necessary. When the body is in the process of healing itself it lays down tissue with little rhyme or reason. Without a guided approach to rehab the tissue stays in that formation and although you may feel fully healed the ankle is not prepared to perform at its best or protect itself from another injury.
In the initial stages of injury- the first 48-72hours- PRICE is important. PRICE (Protection, Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation) will help control the body’s natural inflammatory response and aid recovery. Following the first stage of injury rehabilitation is a necessity to return the ankle to its highest level of function. While it may seem cumbersome each subsequent ankle sprain exposes the joint to more damage and rehabilitation is a key to injury prevention. In short if you don’t rehab you’re exposing yourself to even greater injury risk and time loss from whatever activities you enjoy.
Get your ankle sprain evaluated by a medical professional and take the first steps towards getting back on your feet. Call LSTC TODAY at 703-450-4300 and schedule your evaluation. 

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