Ankle Injuries & Treatment

In my experience the foot injuries that I saw first hand and read about were mainly related to broken toes or minor ankle sprains. I suffered a broken ankle last year which was in an entirely different realm in terms of pain and treatment.

In my case all it took was a very large person being totally unaware of what was around him or for that matter in front of him. A judo style roll out on top of my ankle resulted in a fracture which I must say is very painful.

After experiencing an ankle injury on a firsthand basis I found out that ankle injuries are the most common injuries in America. What the statistics are for martial arts I really don’t know but I imagine they are higher than the norm. The good thing is that the orthopedic surgeons are well versed in this type of injury and can treat them rather easily. This is not to say that all ankle injuries are nothing to be concerned over but it's not life and death.

Whether it is a twist in, a twist out or some other abnormal direction where the ankle is forced beyond it’s range of motion an injury is likely to occur. The least amount of damage that will occur is from a mild strain followed in intensity by three stages of sprains and then finally a fracture or compound fracture.

The RICE method is the preferred way of treating strains or sprains but with fractures a cast and rehabilitation is in order. Usually at least two weeks are needed for a strain and up to two months for a stage 3 sprain. With a fracture the cast can remain on up to two months and months of rehabilitation afterwards. The possibility is that the fracture is compound which may require surgery and will lengthen the rehabilitation.

Our company Best Balms makes ultra r-x plus which can help with mild strains and stage I & II sprains. For a stage III sprain or a fracture RICE is definitely needed immediately along with an extended recovery period. Swimming with a cast enclosed in a waterproof sleeve will help with your aerobic needs. Things happen when you train in martial arts but I have found that many injuries that occur are caused by a lack of attention.

Other possible therapies that can accelerate the healing process are ultra sound treatments, pulse laser, electro magnetic sessions, tens units and various other devises that sometimes can help in conjunction with well known treatments. Don't be fooled though by the hype that many companies advertise in relation to their product because many of the claims can not be substantiated.

As in life a sense of awareness is vitally necessary & it is advisable to be aware of your surroundings and what is in front of you so you may avoid a situation that will force your ankle into a situation where an injury is inevitable.