Archive for Neck Pain Relief
Proper Care for Ankle Injuries
Posted by: | CommentsStudies show that ten percent of emergency department visits can be attributed to ankle injuries. The vast majority of these injuries are sprains. Standard treatment for acute ankle sprains is commonly known as RICE therapy. Patients are told to rest and ice the ankle for twenty minutes at a time. The ankle is then wrapped in compression bandages and elevated. Jones compression dressing involves using alternating layers of elastic bandages and compression bandages. Ibuprofen is often prescribed to ease pain. If the patient has a history of intolerance to aspirin, acetaminophen is prescribed as a substitute.
RICE therapy is an effective for of treatment, to an extent. Unfortunately, it does little to prevent future ankle damage. The RICE technique provides initial damage control but more must be done to ensure future injury is avoided. Statistics show that 25% to 40% of all ankle sprains are recurring injuries. If original injuries go untreated, the patient has a good chance of damaging the ankle later in life. Minor forms of disability may also occur. One possible solution is OMT, or Osteopathic manipulative treatment.
This treatment gives each patient the individual care that they require. Treatment varies patient to patient and ankle to ankle. The osteopath is responsible for deciding what treatment each injury calls for. Soft tissue treatments are often prescribed. Ankle injuries can be treated with a variety of soft tissue techniques. The average treatment session usually lasts 10-20 minutes. Studies have proven that OMT sessions lower the pain level and provide patients with an increased range of motion.
There are many soft tissue treatments. The physician studies the bones, from toe to ankle, and decides where most attention should be focused. Osteopaths have many options for ankle treatment. Sometimes muscle energy and strain-counter strain techniques prove useful. In other situations, lymphatic drainage is the main focus of the treatment. Drainage is an important part of the pain reduction process. The majority of ankle injury pain is the result of the fluid that builds up in the joint areas around the bones. This fluid can severely decrease mobility and slow down the recovery process.
Ankle sprains are injuries that require full attention. Physicians try to bring the ankle back to its previous working order. They also work to improve the range of motion and decrease the amount of fluid that has accumulates around the joints. Short OMT sessions work to prevent swelling and reduce the level of pain the patient experiences. Just one osteopathic manipulative treatment can drastically shorten ankle injury recovery time.
Ankle injuries are not to be thought of lightly. Even a slight sprain should receive medical attention. If injuries go untreated, proper healing may never occur, leading to permanent disability. Fortunately, treatment is readily available. RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) therapy and a quick session with an osteopath physician can reduce pain and shorten recovery time. Osteopath therapy also reduces the risk of future ankle injury.
