Ankle Sprain Recovery: Natural Healing vs Surgery vs Physio
Physiotherapy
Treatment Options
There are a few options you have to choose from when you have sprained your ankle. Here is a breakdown of natural healing and surgery vs physiotherapy.
Natural Healing
Setbacks letting the ankle heal naturally include;
- Delayed healing
- Prolonged pain
- Temporary/permanent limited ankle range of motion
- Cause subsequent knee or hip or even lower back conditions due to poor gait mechanics stemming from the ankle
- Increase likelihood of re-injury
- Develop chronic ankle instability
Surgery
Surgery is not necessary for the majority of cases, even grade 3 ligament tears. However in some severe cases involving a grade 3 sprain, surgery might be required as there is sometimes additional damage to surrounding structures. Surgery may be indicated to avoid developing chronic ankle instability.
Physiotherapy
- Swelling management
- Pain management
- Regain range of motion through soft tissue massage and manual therapy
- Progressive strength training exercises – calf strengthening
- Improve ankle stability & proprioception through exercise – balance exercises
- Regain function through walking/running gait retraining – stepping exercises (pictured)
- Return to sport rehabilitation exercises to get you back to sport or even better than you were prior to your injury
Outcomes From Physiotherapy
- Speeds up recovery
- Reduces pain
- Improves lower limb mobility
- Increases lower limb strength and stability
- Return to your normal daily activities
- Return to sport
Overall, you are better off trying physiotherapy as opposed to leaving your ankle to heal naturally, or jumping straight into surgery.
By Corey Biczo
