Complex Injuries

Ankle Injury, Function and Chronic Pain

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In the United States, ankle injury/s like ankle sprains and strains happen to people every day. Around 50 percent of ankle injuries are misdiagnosed and not treated correctly, leading to disability or chronic ankle pain. An ankle that is not functioning properly affects the whole body. The muscles on either side of the leg and underneath the foot can present with soreness and pain.

This can lead to:

  • Loss of mobility
  • Uneven walking gait
  • Hip pain
  • Back pain

Ankle Anatomy

Three bones are connected to the ankle joint. The lower ends of the shinbone and the small lower leg bone meet to form a socket in which the ankle bone sits. The bottom of the talus rests on the heel bone.

 

 

There is around an inch-thick lining of soft cartilage inside the joint. This provides shock absorption for the body’s weight. It is so tough and durable, provided there is no injury; it lasts for life. The bones are held together with ligaments, and the muscles are attached to the bones by the tendons.

 

 

When there is an injury, it can impact the:

Ankle Injury

The standard treatment for ankle pain is R.I.C.E., which means rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Depending on the injury type, an updated treatment approach replaces the R with an M, where movement is the more beneficial treatment instead of resting. This is done to keep the muscles, tendons, and ligaments from swelling, whereas resting would have allowed swelling to set in, thus extending recovery time.

Certain types of ankle injuries can be exacerbated by movement, so only when it is deemed appropriate; otherwise, stick with the rest. Other treatment types include pain control techniques, from ibuprofen to prescription meds.

When it comes to severe injuries, like a torn ligament, it could require surgical treatment. X-rays and MRIs are utilized to see if there is an injury and to determine the extent of the injury.

Physical Therapy/Chiropractic

A chiropractor will assess the individual’s source of pain and determine the cause. They will use all the tools available. This includes x-rays, MRI, CT scans, and other diagnostic tools to help them determine the best treatment protocol.

When an ankle injury is new, and inflammation has set in along with tenderness, treatment can include:

This is in addition to rest, ice, compression, and elevation. As the ankle heals, the inflammation reduces and becomes more stable; ankle adjustments and foot adjustments could be introduced.

Chiropractic can reduce pain without prescription medication and any associated side effects. This is one of the reasons individuals gravitate towards chiropractic. Regular chiropractic can strengthen the ankle, increase its stability and increase mobility and flexibility.

Nerves and soft tissues can also become damaged. Chiropractic therapy promotes blood flow. This speeds up the healing process and reduces the chance of further injury. The whole-body approach that chiropractic embraces also deals with a proper diet and a healthy lifestyle like losing weight and exercising. Chiropractic is a very effective therapy for treating ankle pain and injury/s. It is a non-invasive, natural approach to healing that allows and trains the body to heal itself.


Ankle Sprain Chiropractic Treatment


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Professional Scope of Practice *

The information herein on "Ankle Injury, Function and Chronic Pain" is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.

Blog Information & Scope Discussions

Our information scope is limited to Chiropractic, musculoskeletal, acupuncture, physical medicines, wellness, contributing etiological viscerosomatic disturbances within clinical presentations, associated somatovisceral reflex clinical dynamics, subluxation complexes, sensitive health issues, and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions.

We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system.

Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.*

Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, or contact us at 915-850-0900.

We are here to help you and your family.

Blessings

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN*, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) in Texas & New Mexico*
Texas DC License # TX5807, New Mexico DC License # NM-DC2182

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Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN* CIFM*, IFMCP*, ATN*, CCST
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