The winter season is in full swing and this means it’s time for fun activities like sledding, skiing, and ice skating. Speaking of ice skating, Frank Southern Ice Arena now offers public skate daily and allows Bloomington residents to have fun as they circle the rink. Whether skating or skiing, wintertime activities are certainly a lot of fun, but they do come with the risk of injury, including sprained ankles. Should this happen, it’s important to know what to expect from ankle sprain recovery.
When you look at all the injuries that can possibly be sustained by humans, ankle sprains are actually quite common. Sure, these can be caused due to wintertime activities or athletic events, but they also happen just from moving around, especially with the icy conditions that winter brings. When you slip on ice, whether at the rink or in the parking lot, you could potentially sprain your ankle.
Ankle sprain recovery following an icy fall will begin with following the R.I.C.E. guidelines:
If this is not sufficient, you may have a Grade II sprain, which will require additional time for healing. Perhaps our office may decide to issue you a splint. With a Grade III sprain, surgery may be needed, although this is rare. We may have you wear a walking boot for two to three weeks to stabilize the affected area.
The best treatment is always to avoid the problem in the first place, so please be careful during the icy winter months. Walk slowly, wear shoes or boots that have good grip, and walk flat-footed to keep your center of gravity stable. If you live in the Bloomington, Bedford, Indianapolis, or Ellettsville areas and need expert treatment and care following an icy fall, call our office at (812) 333-4422 or schedule an appointment online with Kevin J. Powers, DPM, today!
Even though summer may be on the downward slope, there is still tons of fun to be had in the outdoors around Bloomington, IN. Take a casual walk on the B-Line Trail, dust off your clubs at the Cascades Golf Course, or hike around Griffy Lake Nature Preserve. If you are one who has to stay back due to chronic ankle instability, it can be frustrating and make you feel hopeless.
Chronic ankle instability happens after repeated ankle sprains, a sprain that did not heal well, or a twist that wasn’t properly rehabilitated. The affected ankle feels week and wobbly and as though it could “give way” at any point. The pain and/or the fear of another injury can really inhibit your level of activity. Fortunately, there are a few easy and effective ways to boost your confidence and bring some strength and stability back to your ankle.
First, you may want to look into wearing an ankle brace to support the ankle and keep it from turning farther than it should. Second, we encourage you to try some physical therapy with exercises that will strengthen the ankle, improve your balance, and increase the range of motion. Physical therapy can also retrain the muscles, ligaments, and tendons surrounding the ankle joint and in time will help develop a more stable foundation for the ankle.
Weak ankles can make you feel unsteady and increase your risk of falling. We can also offer supplemental items you can use at home to improve the health of your ankles. Contact Kevin J. Powers, DPM today for more information or to make an appointment. You can reach our Bloomington, IN, office by calling (812) 333-4422.
