Ankle sprains are the most common sports injury — and the most commonly under-treated. The typical approach: ice it, rest it, limp around for a week, and get back to sport when the pain settles. This approach is why chronic ankle instability (a history of repeated sprains to the same ankle) is so prevalent. Studies suggest that up to 70% of people who sprain an ankle will go on to develop chronic instability without proper rehabilitation.
Phase 1 (Acute — first 72 hours): Appropriate load management (not complete rest), gentle range of motion, swelling control with lymphatic drainage massage.
Phase 2 (Sub-Acute — Week 1–4): Restoring full range of motion, progressive weight-bearing, calf and peroneals strengthening, and — critically — proprioception training. The ankle’s ligaments contain mechanoreceptors that signal the brain about joint position. When ligaments are torn, these receptors are disrupted. Proprioception training is the most important and most commonly skipped phase of ankle rehabilitation.
Phase 3 (Functional — Week 4–8+): Single-leg strength and balance, agility and change of direction, sport-specific loading, and return-to-activity criteria testing.
For patients with an ankle that repeatedly sprains or ‘gives way,’ physiotherapy should address peroneals strength, proprioception deficits, and any residual joint stiffness. Osteopathic treatment can be very helpful — restrictions in the subtalar and talocrural joints following old ankle sprains alter joint mechanics and increase instability.
For acute ankle sprains, BioFlex Laser Therapy at our Vaughan clinic accelerates ligament repair and reduces the inflammatory response during the first two weeks of healing — meaningfully shortening recovery time compared to passive rest alone.
Book at isomatic.ca or call (647) 812-8156. Stop letting ankle injuries hold you back.
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