Trying to squeeze in a bit of exercise in between work and home schooling? You are not alone and running, or jogging, has become increasingly popular since most sports and outside events have been put on hold due to Lockdown 3.
The short days often mean running in poor light and even the nimblest runner can fall foul of the odd obstacle, pavement, drain cover or pothole. The painful result can be a twist of your ankle, which can mean the ligaments in your ankles and legs can often stretch or tear.
The properties of ligaments
The properties of ligaments enable them to be strong, stretchy bands, the main job of which is to help stabilise the ankle. They keep the bones of the ankle together whilst allowing for movement. If disrupted, they enable too much movement. This can cause pain and is what is known as a sprain. We all know the discomfort!
The most common sprain is on the outside of the foot when you twist or roll your foot inwards.
Structures of your ankle
Sprains do not just occur as a result of sporting activities or running. You may just as easily roll your ankle by stepping off a curb awkwardly, or even whilst gardening. Unfortunately, genetics may also play a role in putting extra strain on the structures of your ankle. If your foot tends to sit in a position where the back of your heel naturally turns more inward, you will be more likely to roll the foot, or constantly put pressure on the ligaments.
Symptoms of an ankle sprain are pain (normally it is extremely uncomfortable), tenderness to touch, swelling, bruising, stiffness or reluctance to move the ankle and sometimes the foot can feel cold.
Personalised care programme
There are different grades of ankle sprain, and if you hear a ‘pop’, it is often the most severe. Ankle sprains can get better on their own over a period of between 2-12 weeks; however if you are unable to put any weight on it, or it keeps on happening, consulting a physiotherapist is a great idea.
As we confirm on our website, lifemadesimple.co.uk, although we hope that an initial physiotherapy consultation will ease any immediate pain or discomfort, many clients find that they need more than one physiotherapy session to meet their ongoing needs. A care programme can be created over a suitable time period and we often find that a programme of five 60-minute sessions can be clinically beneficial.
Contact Us
We look forward to helping you with your physiotherapy needs. If you are interested in our services feel free to call us on 07309 272 555 or email Physio@Lifemadesimple.co.uk. Life Made Simple - expert physiotherapy in Guildford and Surrey.
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