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Avoiding Repeated Ankle Sprains with Wobble Board Training

Tom Willemann |

You may have sprained your ankle several times during the past year and often feel a sensation of weakness, as though you are in danger of spraining it again. When you have had one sprain, other sprains may follow, indicating the presence of a condition called chronic ankle instability.

Is there a way to make it feel normal for good?

The ankle ligaments, rope-like bands of tissue that connect the bones, are unstable. Those on the outside of the ankle are most often affected when the ankle abruptly rolls to the outside of the foot (called an inversionsprain).

The less common but just as damaging eversion sprain occurs when the ankle rolls to the inside.In about 10% of ankle sprains patients have suffered "high" ankle sprains or syndesmosis sprains that often require a period of non-weightbearing and doning an ankle boot for 6-8weeks.  

If you are not making progress from an a recent ankle sprain (>8 weeks)  you may have this somewhat rare type of sprain and require a change in treatment.  It is imperative to receive an orthopedic evaluation and often imaging because if not treated appropriately early on can result in surgery to stabilize the ankle. 

A sprain occurs when you lose your balance, your ankle turns and the ligaments are stretched or completely torn.

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If the ligaments do not heal fully before you face another situation in which a sprain might occur, they will be more susceptible to injury, thus perpetuating the cycle of instability.

After prompt treatment of the initial sprain with PRICE (Protection, Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation), physical therapy can begin, including:

  • massage, compression and elevation to reduce swelling
  • active and passive techniques to regain lost range of motion
  • gentle strength-training exercises to strengthen the peroneal leg muscles adjacent the injured tendons and offer more control over the full ankle joint
  • exercises to help regain proprioception, or “position sense,” using the nervous system to instinctively sense when your ankle truly is and is not stable.  We will have patients stand on cushions or wobble boards to challenge these muscles.
  • exercises to normalize walking patterns and improve balance

A heel wedge can prevent the ankle from turning in or out; a plastic ankle brace can prevent unsteadiness, as can ankle taping. Even high-top sneakers provide some stability. Wearing high heels is not recommended for women with ankle instability.Once swelling subsides and you can move your ankle, we can design a series of exercises to minimize the risk of additional sprains and help prevent falls. We can assess your situation and begin therapy to achieve the best outcome.Apex Orthopedic Rehabilitation in Paramus, NJ provides orthopedic and sports physical therapy services for the greater Paramus, Ridgewood, and Bergen County region.  This blog is intended for informational purposes only and should not be used for diagnostic or prescriptive purposes. The views expressed here are the author’s views and should be taken as suggestions. Always consult your physician before engaging in a physical therapy or rehabilitative regimen.

 

Tom Willemann

Tom Willemann

Tom Willemann is a premier physical therapist based out of Bergen County, New Jersey. He holds an MS in physical therapy from the University of Miami, is credentialed in the world-renowned McKenzie Method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT), and holds an OCS (Orthopedic Clinical Specialist) certification. As of 2018, there are approximately 14,000 ABPTS certified specialists in the nation and less than 400 of them are located in the state of New Jersey. Tom is the owner and director of Apex Orthopedic Rehabilitation in Paramus. He opened the clinic, which specializes in spine and sports injury prevention, in 2004 after many years of experience in the field. Tom’s caring interest in others and his strong belief in continuity of care, combined with his clinic’s ability to find solutions for the most difficult orthopedic problems, have earned Apex Orthopedic Rehabilitation its excellent reputation with patients and medical professionals in northeastern New Jersey and beyond. A true “family man,” Tom takes pride in his clinic’s warm and welcoming environment.
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