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Sunday, January 4, 2009

Proper Treatment for Ankle Sprains

By Andrew Mitchell

About ten percent of emergency department visits are the result of ankle injury. Most of these injuries are simple ankle sprains. These injuries are most commonly treated with RICE therapy. Patients are instructed to rest and ice the joint for 20 minutes sessions. Then, the injury is wrapped in compression bandages and elevated. The Jones compression uses alternate layers of elastic bandages and compression bandages. Finally, patients are instructed to elevate the ankle. To reduce pain, ibuprofen is usually provided. Patients who are ibuprofen-intolerant are given acetaminophen instead. This is the common procedure for ankle injuries.

RICE therapy has been proven effective but it does nothing to prevent future ankle injuries. The RICE technique is used as damage control for the initial injury but, further treatment must be done to prevent future damage. Future injury prevention is important because it is estimated that 25% to 40% of ankle sprains are recurrent injuries. If the original injury is improperly treated, it is likely the patient will suffer from future injury and increased disability. Osteopathic manipulative treatment, or OMT, may be the much needed solution.

This treatment gives each patient the individual care that they require. Treatment varies patient to patient and ankle to ankle. The osteopath is responsible for deciding what treatment each injury calls for. Soft tissue treatments are often prescribed. Ankle injuries can be treated with a variety of soft tissue techniques. The average treatment session usually lasts 10-20 minutes. Studies have proven that OMT sessions lower the pain level and provide patients with an increased range of motion.

There are several soft tissue techniques. By analyzing the relation of the bones, from the ankle to the toe, the osteopath can pinpoint which areas require the most attention. This system ensures that the patient receives treatment that is most beneficial. There are a number of other techniques to treat ankle injury. Physicians can also use muscle energy and strain/counter-strain techniques. Lymphatic drainage is also a very effective was of reducing pain. Fluid around the joints increases pain and decreases mobility.

Ankle sprains are serious injuries that require proper treatment. Clinicians strive to ensure proper function of the ankle, increase the range of motion, and reduce the amount of fluid that builds up around the joint. Brief OMT sessions reduce swelling and decrease the level of pain. Even a single OMT treatment in the emergency department can dramatically improve acute ankle injury recovery.

Clearly, ankle injury is a serious problem. Untreated injuries can lead to improper healing and permanent disability. Fortunately, treatment can be easily received. RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) therapy and osteopath sessions will reduce pain and make for a speedy recovery. Proper care can also prevent future ankle damage.

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