If you work hard, play hard, or exercise hard, your ankles are at risk for injury. After all, much of the force your body generates when doing these things has to travel through your ankles. You have to be very careful with ankle injuries. You should never just ignore one, even if it seems minor. If you hurt your ankle, you may need physical therapy. Essex residents should read on to learn what they can do to fix their ankle problems the right way, with physical therapy.
Causes of Ankle Injuries
There are several ways that ankles can get injured:
- Sprains: When one of the ligaments in your ankle is stretched past its limits, it experiences bruising, swelling, and a loss of mobility. It is often the result of twisting your ankle.
- Bone fractures: Too much sudden stress, twisting, or an impact with a solid object can cause ankle fractures that range in severity from mild to crippling. Pain, loss of mobility, and swelling can result.
- Tendinitis: Repetitive activities can cause tendinitis or swelling of the tendons. It also causes pain and reduces mobility.
- Arthritis: Stiffness and pain in the ankle can also be the result of arthritis, which can be caused by many different things, including injuries and infections.
- Gout: This condition is caused by excess uric acid in the blood, causing pain, swelling, and a loss of mobility.
Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Ankle Pain
A lot of different ankle injuries have similar symptoms. A seemingly minor ankle injury could actually be a major one. And no matter what the nature of the injury, ignoring it will mean a longer recovery time and a greater risk of knee, spine, and hip problems. Scar tissue, chronic inflammation, weaker ankles, and increased risk of future ankle injuries can result. You also run an increased risk of developing osteoarthritis later in life.
The Benefits of Physical Therapy
Physical therapy can help strengthen the ankle and the areas around it, during recovery. It can speed recovery and reduce the risk of additional problems developing. Physical therapy makes it more likely that you will fully recover.
Contact Us for Physical Therapy Essex
If you’ve suffered an ankle injury, you may need physical therapy. In Essex, Dr. Neil Cohen can help with his over 35 years of experience. You can take advantage of our top-notch physical therapy service. Contact us today to learn how we can help.
