Canadian Olympic shot-put contender Brittany Crew is sitting out the Olympic Track and Field Trials in Montreal this week to give a badly sprained ankle some additional recovery time. While you’re probably not an Olympic athlete, at Feet First Foot Care Specialists, we think there is something that our Middlesex County patients can learn from Crew’s wise move: rehabilitating ankle injuries can’t be rushed.

Back in May, Crew was competing in the Tucson Elite Classic in Arizona. On her first throw, her left foot hit the toe board and slid, shifting Crew’s weight, and putting full force on her right ankle. She heard a pop and then felt numb. Ankle sprains are rated by grades to express the severity of the injury. In Crew’s case, she sustained a Grade 2 sprain, a serious overstretching of the ankle ligaments where the joint remains stable and not displaced. By allowing her ankle, extra rest along with proper physical therapy and training, Crew hopes to be refreshed and at her peak in time for the Summer Olympics in Tokyo later in July.

How to Handle an Ankle Sprain

The takeaway from Crew’s story applies to all our patients. If you sustain an ankle-twisting injury here’s what you should know:

  • Ankle injuries can be tricky to self-assess. You may feel extreme pain, or, like Crew, the ankle may feel numb. Some patients make the mistake of thinking the sprain is “not too bad” because it isn’t very painful, and they can walk on it.

  • Seek medical care promptly. Your best course of action is to contact our Cromwell office by calling 860-632-5499 and letting our podiatrist, Dr. Adam Mucinskas examine your injured ankle to evaluate the severity of the injury.

  • R-I-C-E in the meantime. Until the podiatrist can see you, follow the regimen: Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation of the injured area.

  • Don’t Rush It. Your ankle may feel better before it’s fully healed. In addition to the ligaments getting back to normal, it’s essential to build up the surrounding muscles to support the ankle ligaments.

  • Finally, always complete the full course of therapy prescribed by the foot doctor to ensure a complete recovery and reduce your risk of future sprains.

 

Questions or Comments?

We encourage you to contact us whenever you have an interest or concern about our services.

Call Today (860) 632-5499

162 West St Ste K Cromwell, CT 06416