Dr Kola Tytler MBBS CertHE MBA MRCGPClinical Lead • iatroX
Key rehabilitation strategies for a patient recovering from an ankle sprain include:
- Early mobilization: Initiate gentle movement and weight-bearing as soon as clinically appropriate to reduce pain, swelling, and improve function, rather than prolonged immobilization NICE CKS.
- Exercise therapy: Implement a tailored exercise program focusing on strength, balance, proprioception, and coordination to restore functional joint stability and prevent recurrence. This includes resistance training, balance training, and task-specific exercises NICE CKS,NICE NG211.
- Use of functional support: Employ ankle braces or taping for 4–6 weeks during exercise to protect the joint, improve stability, and reduce the risk of re-injury, especially in athletes or those engaging in high-risk activities NICE CKS.
- Physiotherapy referral: Consider referral for supervised physiotherapy to guide exercise therapy and assess the need for external support, particularly if recovery is slow or symptoms persist NICE CKS.
- Gait re-education and weight-bearing progression: Start gait training and progressive weight-bearing exercises early to restore normal walking patterns and muscle function NICE NG211.
- Range of movement and stretching exercises: Provide passive, active-assisted, and active range of movement exercises to maintain and improve ankle joint mobility NICE NG211.
- Swelling management: Advise elevation, circulation exercises, and consider compression under specialist supervision to reduce oedema NICE NG211.
- Self-care advice: Encourage warm-up and cool-down routines, use of appropriate footwear, gradual progression of activity intensity, and avoidance of exercise when in pain or fatigued to prevent re-injury NICE CKS.