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 a short term solution; it does not provide long term care. It simply serves as damage control for the initial injury. Future injury prevention is crucial. Approximately 25% to 40% of ankle sprains are recurrent injuries. When the initial injury receives improper treatment, future ankle damage is likely to lead to either temporary or permanent disability. Osteopathic manipulative treatment, or OMT, is one possible solution to this problem.

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 many soft tissue treatments. The physician studies the bones, from toe to ankle, and decides where most attention should be focused. Osteopaths have many options for ankle treatment. Sometimes muscle energy and strain-counter strain techniques prove useful. In other situations, lymphatic drainage is the main focus of the treatment. Drainage is an important part of the pain reduction process. The majority of ankle injury pain is the result of the fluid that builds up in the joint areas around the bones. This fluid can severely decrease mobility and slow down the recovery process.

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.

Clearly, ankle injury is a serious problem. Untreated injuries can lead to improper healing and permanent disability. Fortunately, treatment can be easily received. RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) therapy and osteopath sessions will reduce pain and make for a speedy recovery. Proper care can also prevent future ankle damage.