After an ankle sprain, it can hurt to move or put weight through the foot. However, gradually returning to weight-bearing as tolerated and restoring ankle movement are important parts of recovery. At Performance Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine, your therapist evaluates the factors contributing to your pain and builds a program to help you return to normal activity.
Painful walking, swelling, limited motion, and uncertainty about how much activity is safe can slow recovery. A plan for progressive movement and weight-bearing can help.
Repeated ankle sprains may reflect disrupted coordination between the brain and ankle. Balance, coordination, and strengthening work are used to address chronic instability.
If you feel off balance on one foot, need to touch the floor with the other foot, or cannot control your arms during a single-leg balance task, ankle stability may need attention.
Your therapist can guide you through ankle motion, progressive strengthening, balance, and coordination exercises. Home strategies may include moving the foot up and down and side to side, using the big toe to write the alphabet, elevating the ankle above the knee and hip for swelling, and progressing heel and toe walking in different directions when appropriate. The goal is a full recovery—not simply getting by until the pain fades.
Performance Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine serves Eastern Connecticut from offices in Colchester and Hebron. Most insurance companies cover self-referral to physical therapy, and our administrative staff can check benefits and explain any special referral requirements before your first visit.