Ankle Fractures: Causes, Treatment, And Common Exercises

Ankle issues are not an oddity. Growing up, you might have had at least one painful ankle sprain. The pain of ankle injuries is so intense that it is almost impossible to maintain composure. There are several other ankle conditions that require the attention of a healthcare professional. Fractures, arthritis, chronic tendon dysfunction and chronic instability are some of the most common issues that cause ankle issues.

Before you decide to use an icepack on the affected area and forget about it, there are some important facts you should know about ankle fractures.

Causes Of Ankle Fractures

The amount of pressure the ankles can handle is limited. When too much force is applied to the soft tissues and bones, the ankles will not be able to hold up. The main reason for fractures includes twists, rolls, turns and strains on the ankle that is mostly sudden, forced and unintentional. This is why most ankle fractures out there happen during sports.

There is another type of fracture in the ankle that is quite common too. Known as stress fractures, these are the result of continuous pressure on the ankle that usually takes some time to affect. If not, there is a possibility that ankle fractures are an effect of a fundamental issue related to your bone health.

Different Types Of Ankle Fractures

We can identify three major types, which should be technically diagnosed by a professionally qualified medical expert.

  1. Unimalleolar fracture – This is the type that can be seen the most. The fracture happens in the lateral malleolus, which is the bony kink we have on the outside of our ankle.
  2. Bimalleolar fracture – Even though this type is not as commonly seen as the first, it is still quite usual. The fracture happens in the lateral malleolus and medial malleolus (the bony kink we have on the inside of the ankle)
  3. Trimalleolar fracture – This is more on the rare side, and can be extremely painful. The fracture happens in the lateral malleolus, medial malleolus and the rim of the tibia (the bony rim at the behind of the ankle). It strains and damages the ankle in all three sides.

Physiotherapy, Massage Therapy And Chiropractic Therapy For Ankle Fractures

To avoid further pressure and unwanted force on the ankles, medical professionals normally recommend a patient with a fractured ankle to use crutches when they stand and walk. This usually goes on for about a month (or more in severe cases). As your ankle will be on a cast, there is a possibility that it will turn stiff, or cause certain amounts of pain. This is the best time to start therapeutic treatments. Massage, chiropractic and physiotherapeutic care can help you alleviate pain and restore lost strength.

Instead of being in a cast for a whole month without knowing for sure whether it will get better or not, you can pay a visit to s trusted wellness clinic. Starting from simple exercises, you will be gradually guided towards effective pain management and mobility improvement treatments.

What A patient Should Not Do

There are certain things a patient with an ankle fracture should avoid doing.

  • Never put pressure on the fractured ankle
  • Do not keep things to yourself. Let your physiotherapist know about the doctor’s instructions.
  • Do not hide your pain. It is always recommended that you communicate to the therapist if something is unbearable, painful or stressful.

(Important: You will feel slight discomfort and pain during and after the treatments. This is not something to worry about at all.)

Usual Recovery Time

This really depends on the type of injury you have. The ankle bones only take 4 – 6 months to heal whereas the time span may be extended if there is tendon and ligament damage. More serious injuries require immediate surgical care where pins, plates or screws will be inserted. These surgeries will take you around three months to fully recover from. Worse cases will take over a year to heal.

You can reduce recovery time significantly if you start treatments early and continue them accurately. At Our Massage Therapy Surrey, we have the best team of professionals in the city. In addition to continued treatments, we guide you through a series of easy exercises that are easy to do at home.

  • Exercises to improve mobility
  • Easy stretching exercises
  • Weight-bearing exercise
  • Speed training

Best Cure For Ankle Fractures

Going through an ankle fracture is hard, especially as it is severely painful and disrupts your daily ways of life. As an experienced chiropractor Surrey, we have proven methods and stress-free approaches to address ankle fractures. Give Seva Wellness Clinic a call today to find out the discounted price list we have for the coming weeks.

 

Leave a reply