Have You Sustained a Sprain or Strain to Your Ankle? Get Back on Your Feet with Physiotherapy

Ready to Move with Ease Once Again?

If you’re having ankle pain that isn’t going away, there’s a significant chance that you’ve suffered from a strain or a sprain! People sometimes use these two terms interchangeably, but there is actually a big distinction between them.

A strain is the tear or overstretching of a muscle or tendon. These tendons connect the bones to the muscles. Your lower back and hamstrings are the most popular area of the strain. A sprain is the overstretching or tearing of a ligament. Ligaments are rows of tissue linking bones in a joint. Sprains commonly occur in the joints of your ankle but can happen in any joint.

The good news is that you no longer have to live in discomfort. Physiotherapy will benefit you! To learn more about the natural and effective treatment of pain and prevention of sprains and strains through PT, please call our office today. One of our certified physiotherapists will be pleased to see you!

Ankle injuries: a common area of pain

Although many injuries are more likely to occur as we age, according to WebMD, “Ankle injuries can happen to anyone at any age. However, men between 15 and 24 years old have higher rates of ankle sprain, compared to women older than age 30 who have higher rates than men. Half of all ankle sprains occur during athletic activity. Every day in the U.S., 25,000 people sprain their ankles. And more than 1 million people visit emergency rooms each year because of ankle injuries.”

That’s a pretty impressive statistic, and it just goes to show that literally, everyone is at risk for receiving an injury to their ankle! That’s why it’s incredibly important to be aware of how you’re moving your body in order to prevent one, as well as understanding your treatment options should you get hurt.

What can I expect from a treatment plan?

Active therapy in physiotherapy includes targeted workouts and stretching. Passive treatment includes electrical stimulation, ultrasound, massage, and heat therapy. Electrical stimulation and heat therapy are very helpful in reducing ankle pain.

Physiotherapy has also been shown to be an effective treatment for ligament sprains, such as ACL tears. ACL tears are a very common injury to the knee. Physiotherapy has also been shown to be beneficial for damage to the Achilles tendon and other forms of sprains and strains. No matter what the injury might be, physiotherapy is here to help.

How can a physiotherapist help me find relief?

.A majority of folks can do this technique at home, but it doesn’t always work. If you find that your injury doesn’t heal this way, it’s time to see the doctor. A doctor will most likely conduct a few tests and take an X-ray to see if there are bone fractures. If not, the diagnosis is typically a strain or a sprain.

This is where physiotherapy should come in! You might be recommended by your doctor to visit a physiotherapist, no matter the cause or severity of the injury. Physiotherapy will play a vital role in your rehabilitation, since physiotherapists know a multitude of ways to effectively relieve and alleviate discomforts, such as the ones from ankle sprains and strains. They can also enhance your coordination and strength.

Why did I sustain a sprain or strain?

Symptoms for strains and sprains are very similar, which is another reason people seem to mix the two up! You might experience muscle spasms, swelling and inflammation, decreased range of motion, limited flexibility, and pain around the affected joint.

The biggest difference between the two is that a sprain will normally show up with bruising on the skin around that affected area.

Some ways that you can receive a strain or sprain are as follows:

  • Prolonged repetitive motion
  • Slipping and falling
  • Athletic activities
  • Overexerting yourself
  • Lifting heavy objects

It’s important to warm up before physical activity to avoid receiving a sprain or strain. Make sure when you’re working out that you are alert and aware of your surroundings, and using the proper equipment as well so you don’t have an accident resulting in one of the two injuries.

There are also environmental factors that can put you at risk as well, such as slippery or icy surfaces, or exercising on rocky ground that could cause you to trip and fall.

Get moving again today!

If you have ankle pain from a strain or sprain, don’t let it get worse by putting off treatment any longer. Our office is here to help you out! Contact Be Active Physiotherapy today to learn how we can get you on the road to recovery.

Our qualified and licensed physiotherapists will carry out a thorough evaluation to determine your condition and develop an individualized treatment program. In no time we will help you recover and live your normal life again!

Say Goodbye Your Chronic Back Pain With These Helpful Tips!

Did You Know Physiotherapy Could Help Provide Chronic Back Pain Relief?

Do you periodically find yourself disabled by bouts of back pain? Do you experience ongoing back pain that never gives you a moment’s relief?

Whatever form it may take, chronic back pain can put all kinds of limits on your life — until you finally start taking the necessary steps to address it head-on.

But you don’t have to schedule major surgery or allow yourself to become addicted to prescription painkillers just to keep this lurking monster at bay.

Conservative strategies such as physiotherapy and smart lifestyle practices can help you manage your chronic pain for life. Ask our physiotherapist to evaluate your conditions and recommend specific treatments!

What exactly is chronic back pain?

If you’ve ever injured your back in a car crash, high-impact sports injury or work-related accident, you know just how bad back pain can get.

As horrendously painful as that acute back pain may be, however, at least it goes away at some point. Chronic back pain hangs on long after an acute injury or other ailment should have resolved it through healing.

Chronic back pain is pain that persists for three months and longer. This type of pain can be due to a variety of reasons, including arthritis of the spine, aging, disc problems and myofascial pain syndrome.

Technically, back pain is categorized as chronic if it continues for at least 3 months -and in many cases, chronic back pain can haunt sufferers for years. This is especially true if your back pain stems from an irreversible or progressive condition.

About 20 percent of people who have back pain will have it develop into chronic back pain with persistent symptoms. Chronic back pain ranks number three on the scale for the most burdensome conditions for Americans.

What caused my back pain to develop?

The first step in addressing your chronic back pain is having some understanding of its cause.

Chronic back pain can be caused by many underlying issues, from an acute injury that failed to heal correctly to chronic health problems such as:

  • Degenerative disc disease, a condition in which the spinal discs bulge and flatten
  • Arthritis in the facet joints that mobilize your spinal column
  • Chronic muscle or connective strain due to stress, overuse or repetitive motion
  • Muscle knots associated with fibromyalgia, myofascial pain syndrome and other chronic problems
  • Physical or postural imbalances that lead to chronic muscle strain and soreness
  • Congenital deformities such as scoliosis
  • Excess weight from obesity or pregnancy
  • Herniated discs that compress spinal nerve tissue

Chronic back pain doesn’t always limit itself to your back.

Conditions that involve pinched nerve roots may send pain and other odd sensations into your upper or lower extremities.

What can physiotherapy do for chronic back pain?

Don’t fall into the trap of feeling helpless against your chronic back pain. Our physiotherapist can analyze your current condition to determine the exact cause of your symptoms.

We can then prescribe, not just physiotherapy exercises, but an entire way of living that helps you maintain optimal day-to-day comfort. Here are some tips you can incorporate into your new pain-management routine:

  • Sleep differently – Switch to a different type of mattress or adjust your sleep position to minimize nighttime (and next-day) pain.
  • Exercise – Regular physiotherapy exercises to strengthen your core muscles (including the muscles of the abdomen, pelvis and lower back) can stabilize your spine and ease muscle pain.
  • Change your ergonomics – Move things around in your workplace so that you can reach frequently-needed items with a minimum of stooping, bending or twisting.
  • Pursue stress reduction – Yoga, meditation, and other stress-busting techniques can help you keep your back muscles relaxed.
  • Improve your nutrition – Emphasize anti-inflammatory foods, “nature’s medicine” for chronic pain. Our physiotherapist can also prescribe exercises to help you lose weight, thus taking pressure off of your spine.

The exercises your physiotherapist prescribes to you will help retrain the deep muscles of your back. Your physiotherapist will show you how to use the right spinal and abdominal muscles before beginning any exercises to stabilize the spine. Manipulation is another technique to alleviate chronic back pain. Short and rapid thrusting movements are done over a joint to reduce pain and increase mobility.

Ready to find relief?

Ready to learn more about how to fight chronic back pain? Contact Be Active Physiotherapy and Wellness today!

Sources:

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