Ankle Physiotherapy

We often take the function and importance of the ankle for granted, that is, until we suffer a sprain or fracture. The ankle is a vital joint for everyday movement, but unfortunately can be quite a common joint to injure, with walking on an uneven footpath enough to cause a sprain. Thankfully with physiotherapy and podiatry treatments, ankle stability and mobility can be enhanced, improving the time spent on your feet.

The ankle joint contains three bones, as well as essential connective tendons and ligaments that help stabilise the joint. Ankle injuries often occur when these stabilising ligaments are overstretched, resulting in a sprained, or rolled, ankle. This results in the bruising and swelling of the ankle, and requires rest in order to properly heal. But with our busy lifestyle, staying off our feet sometimes isn’t an option. That’s why proper care of the ankle joint, and sometimes regular treatment, is necessary in order for us to maintain an active lifestyle.

The importance of the ankle is built around its stability and mobility. You need stability to not only keep up on the field, but also for those days where you’re always on your feet. Stability is rooted within balance, and if your ankles or your feet are misaligned, both your balance and stability could be severely affected, resulting in more frequent strains and sprains. Physiotherapy treatments help identify stability weaknesses and balance issues, assisting in improving these areas to allow for a strong and stable foundation for the rest of your body.

Ankle mobility is essential for all, whether you’re a professional athlete or a casual jogger and gym-goer, as without it, leg muscles such as the calves or the hamstrings are put under further pressure, sometimes resulting in serious damage. Proper stretching and warmups can often improve ankle mobility, but due to the constant weight and pressure on the ankle joint, treatments are usually recommended to ensure the best results.

Physiotherapy treatments can also help with recovery and pain reduction with more serious injuries. While all sprains require rest for optimal recovery, treatments on the ankle can help improve blood flow to the injured ligament, as well as assist in returning the ligament to its original state. Treatments on the surrounding muscle groups, such as the feet, upper legs and hips, put less pressure on the recovering ankle, meaning a quicker and more complete recovery. Treatments also significantly reduce the likelihood of reinjuring ankle ligaments, meaning that you can have confidence stepping back into your running shoes after an injury.

Conditions and Diseases

Like getting a flu shot before you travel or strapping before a game, active preparation is one of the best ways to avoid injury or illness. Physiotherapy treatments is one way to actively prepare not only your muscles and joints from aches and strains, but also assist in treating more serious conditions, diseases and illnesses.

Respiratory issues such as Cystic Fibrosis can be helped via physiotherapy treatments and exercises, as can other conditions such as Arthritis and Lymphoedema. While only a piece in a puzzle, physiotherapy treatments are an important piece in achieving optimal health.