jospt perspectives for patients

Ankle Sprains
What Updated Guidelines Mean for You
J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2021;51(4):161. doi:10.2519/jospt.2021.0504

A
nkle sprains are the most common foot-ankle and
sports-related injury for which people seek medical
care. People of all ages sprain their ankles. Four in
every 10 first-time ankle sprains occur when playing
sports. Acute ankle sprains are usually accompanied
by swelling, pain, and difficulty walking. Chronic ankle insta-
Downloaded from www.jospt.org at on February 19, 2024. For personal use only. No other uses without permission.
injury. People with chronic ankle instability say their ankle feels
unstable or like it “gives way.” The JOSPT published updated clin-
ical practice guidelines on diagnosing, managing, and prevent-
ing acute ankle sprains and chronic ankle instability in the April
2021 issue. Content experts reviewed research, summarized all
the information, and developed recommendations to help clini-

bility is diagnosed when a person continues to have problems cians and patients. We share what the experts found and what
with tasks like walking or playing sports 1 year after the original it means for you or for someone for whom you may be caring.

A B C WHAT THEY FOUND

After an ankle sprain, clinicians will advise you on
using external supports, such as braces or taping,
Copyright © 2021 Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy®. All rights reserved.

and progressively bearing weight on the affected

leg. They will design rehabilitation programs that
include exercises targeting specific impairments (eg,
ankle stiffness, muscle weakness) and that meet
your goals and preferences. Clinicians may use
manual therapy techniques when managing acute
ankle sprains and, in the short term, for people with
chronic ankle instability. Bracing and taping may be
used to prevent first-time ankle sprains.

WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU

Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy®

Return to full participation in activities like sport can

take as little as 1 day or as long as a few weeks after
an ankle sprain. Full recovery with no symptoms or
limitations may take months or years. Some people
RECOVERING FROM ANKLE SPRAIN. Treatment for ankle sprain should be provided by a team of clinicians
experience chronic ankle instability that affects their
specializing in rehabilitation. (A) Assessment will include tests of your balance, ankle movement, ankle strength
ability to participate in activities like exercise and
(calf and lower-leg muscles), and function (what your ankle can do compared to before it was sprained). (B)
sport. When you sprain your ankle or experience
Exercises to improve ankle movement, strength, and balance will help you recover from ankle sprain and avoid
ankle instability, a physical therapist will perform a
future sprains. Simple balance exercises can start by standing on a pillow or piece of foam and progress to using
thorough assessment and examination to test ankle
a wobble or balance board to help strengthen the muscles around the ankle and improve your ability to perform
movement and strength, balance while standing still
demanding tasks like changing direction while running or hiking on uneven surfaces. (C) Ankle braces or taping
and moving, and how much weight you can bear. You
can help prevent ankle sprains before they happen and keep them from occurring again.
may also be asked to hop or jump.
This JOSPT Perspectives for Patients article is based on clinical practice guidelines by Martin et al titled “Ankle
During treatment, a physical therapist will guide
Stability and Movement Coordination Impairments: Lateral Ankle Ligament Sprains Revision 2021” (J Orthop Sports
you to progressively bear weight on your injured leg,
Phys Ther. 2021;51(4):CPG1-CPG80. https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2021.0302).
using external supports (eg, crutches) as needed.
This JOSPT Perspectives for Patients article was produced by Patient and Public Partnerships Editor Joletta Belton An exercise program will be designed with you to
and a team of JOSPT’s editorial board and staff, led by Editor-in-Chief Clare Ardern, and illustrated by Jeanne help you recover faster and avoid future sprains.
Robertson. These exercises may be done at the clinic or at home
For this and more topics, visit JOSPT Perspectives for Patients online at www.jospt.org. and can include work- or sport-specific exercises to
get you back to your usual activities. The physical
therapist may also use manual therapy to help
with swelling, weight bearing, or ankle movement.
An ankle brace or taping may help prevent future
sprains, especially if you play sports.

JOSPT PERSPECTIVES FOR PATIENTS is a public service of the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy®. The information and recommendations contained
here are a summary of the referenced research article and are not a substitute for seeking proper health care to diagnose and treat this condition. For more information
on the management of this condition, contact your physical therapist or other health care provider specializing in musculoskeletal disorders. JOSPT Perspectives
for Patients may be photocopied noncommercially by physical therapists and other health care providers to share with patients. The official journal of the Academy
of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy and the American Academy of Sports Physical Therapy of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and a recognized
journal of 30 international partners, the JOSPT strives to offer high-quality research, immediately applicable clinical material, and useful supplemental information on
musculoskeletal and sports-related health, injury, and rehabilitation. Copyright ©2021 JOSPT®, Inc

journal of orthopaedic & sports physical therapy | volume 51 | number 4 | april 2021 | 161