Getting around can be very difficult with ankle sprains and are a huge set-back for sports athletes. Based on severity, they are graded 1, 2, or 3.
Grade 1 indicates minimal swelling, minimal instability, and little change in range of motion (ROM).
Grade 2 represents severe pain and instability that makes weight-bearing hard.
Grade 3 indicates complete loss of function with little to no ROM. This sprain requires x-rays and sometimes surgery.
The common medical approach for grades 1 and 2 would include taping or bracing the joint for added stability, rest, ice, elevation when possible, and reducing inflammation with NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs like Tylenol or Aspirin). The patient can expect weeks of rehabilitation with a physical therapist or athletic trainer. This is the standard of care which I only recommend in the absence of a chiropractic applied kinesiologist.
For the serious athlete, getting better quickly is just as important as preventing recurrence. Being pushed or tackled can easily result in a sprain and disrupt the surrounding muscles, but frequently the ankle just "gives way," without an external cause. In this circumstance, there was likely a pre-existing condition of suboptimal muscle function. This means the muscle doesn't fire as strongly as when asked. It's not a muscle strength issue, but a miscommunication between the muscle and the brain. In other words, the muscles failed to stabilize the ankle, it buckled, and the last line of defense (the ligaments) were stretched and torn. Medical doctors and orthopedists may be familiar with the concept of muscle inhibition, but few know how to fix it. So, most time and effort goes to healing the ligaments by immobilizing the joint. Physical therapists address muscle strength and sometimes serendipitously help with muscle inhibition, but often after weeks of treatment. This can be a huge training setback, an added inconvenience, and a greater expense for the patient. Frequently, the athlete is released since the ligaments have healed, but prone once more to re-injury because the muscle inhibition pattern remains.
A chiropractic applied kinesiologist can frequently return a sprained ankle patient to regular activities within one week-even if grade 2. Relieving the muscle inhibition pattern enables better stability using the body's normal mechanisms rather than braces or tape. The natural pumping of the muscles also removes cellular debris and reduces swelling (edema). Taking a good Cod Liver Oil with EPA and DHA, as well as bioflavinoids will speed healing time, too. Chiropractic adjustments, orthopedic massage, acupressure/acupuncture and proper nutrition decreases pain and rapidly improves ankle function. For more information on professional applied kinesiology or to seek out an applied kinesiologist, visit the International College of Applied Kinesiology (ICAK) online.
Grade 1 indicates minimal swelling, minimal instability, and little change in range of motion (ROM).
Grade 2 represents severe pain and instability that makes weight-bearing hard.
Grade 3 indicates complete loss of function with little to no ROM. This sprain requires x-rays and sometimes surgery.
The common medical approach for grades 1 and 2 would include taping or bracing the joint for added stability, rest, ice, elevation when possible, and reducing inflammation with NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs like Tylenol or Aspirin). The patient can expect weeks of rehabilitation with a physical therapist or athletic trainer. This is the standard of care which I only recommend in the absence of a chiropractic applied kinesiologist.
For the serious athlete, getting better quickly is just as important as preventing recurrence. Being pushed or tackled can easily result in a sprain and disrupt the surrounding muscles, but frequently the ankle just "gives way," without an external cause. In this circumstance, there was likely a pre-existing condition of suboptimal muscle function. This means the muscle doesn't fire as strongly as when asked. It's not a muscle strength issue, but a miscommunication between the muscle and the brain. In other words, the muscles failed to stabilize the ankle, it buckled, and the last line of defense (the ligaments) were stretched and torn. Medical doctors and orthopedists may be familiar with the concept of muscle inhibition, but few know how to fix it. So, most time and effort goes to healing the ligaments by immobilizing the joint. Physical therapists address muscle strength and sometimes serendipitously help with muscle inhibition, but often after weeks of treatment. This can be a huge training setback, an added inconvenience, and a greater expense for the patient. Frequently, the athlete is released since the ligaments have healed, but prone once more to re-injury because the muscle inhibition pattern remains.
A chiropractic applied kinesiologist can frequently return a sprained ankle patient to regular activities within one week-even if grade 2. Relieving the muscle inhibition pattern enables better stability using the body's normal mechanisms rather than braces or tape. The natural pumping of the muscles also removes cellular debris and reduces swelling (edema). Taking a good Cod Liver Oil with EPA and DHA, as well as bioflavinoids will speed healing time, too. Chiropractic adjustments, orthopedic massage, acupressure/acupuncture and proper nutrition decreases pain and rapidly improves ankle function. For more information on professional applied kinesiology or to seek out an applied kinesiologist, visit the International College of Applied Kinesiology (ICAK) online.
About the Author:
Charles Leahy writes about training injuries and alternative healthcare. Learn more about applied kinesiolgoy and a great Glen Ellyn chiropractor.
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