Wednesday, December 31, 2008

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 is an effective for of treatment, to an extent. Unfortunately, it does little to prevent future ankle damage. The RICE technique provides initial damage control but more must be done to ensure future injury is avoided. Statistics show that 25% to 40% of all ankle sprains are recurring injuries. If original injuries go untreated, the patient has a good chance of damaging the ankle later in life. Minor forms of disability may also occur. One possible solution is OMT, or Osteopathic manipulative treatment.

This treatment provides care on an individual level. The treatment each patient receives is entirely unique to their particular injury. The osteopath physician assesses the joint and surrounding muscles. They then decide which soft tissue techniques would prove most effective. Sessions are brief, lasting only 10-20 minutes. Several studies show that these treatments lower pain levels and greatly improve the patient's overall range of motion.

There are a number of soft tissue treatments. Osteopaths analyze the relationship of the bones from the toe to the ankle. They then decide which region requires the most work and attention. This system gives each patient a unique treatment. Instead of generic care, the patient receives care that will be most beneficial to their individual situation. Soft tissue is only one of several approaches to this therapy. Clinicians can also use muscle energy and strain/counter strain treatments. Pain reduction can be achieved by a process called lymphatic drainage. When fluid forms around the joints, the pain level increases and mobility greatly decreases.

Ankle sprains require immediate treatment. Physicians aim to return the ankle to proper working order. The goal is to get the patient up and walking normally as soon as possible. They also try to increase the overall range of motion and reduce pain levels as much as possible. Studies prove that even one Osteopathic manipulative treatment session can greatly improve the recovery process for acute ankle injuries.

Ankle injury is a serious matter. Damage that appears minor should still be checked by a certified professional. Untreated injuries lead to improper healing which can result in long term disability. Luckily, treatment is easily accessible. RICE (rest and icing of the area, compression wraps and elevation) therapy is the first step. A quick visit with an osteopath results in pain reduction and a much shorter recovery period. Osteopath therapy also helps to prevent future damage to the ankle joint and surrounding bones and muscles.

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