It happened again:
You rolled your ankle.
Maybe you were playing basketball and came down on it the wrong way. Perhaps you were dancing when you twisted it. It's possible you were just walking when your ankle folded to the side, leaving you in excruciating pain for the next few weeks.
Now you're asking yourself:
Why do I keep rolling my ankle?
There are several possible answers to this question, so we'll try to help you figure it out.
5 common causes of sprained ankles
Each time you sprain your ankle, your chances of getting another one increase, so it's in your best interest to figure out the cause. Here are a few potential reasons why you keep rolling your ankle:
1. Inadequate footwear ” Your shoes should always offer proper support for the situation. If you're hiking on rough terrain, wear boots that fully support your ankles. Same goes for running, basketball and other high-impact activities.
2. Lack of lower- body strength ” Weak muscles in your feet, legs, hips and core aren't able to fully support your upper body. Stronger muscles provide more support, especially when you're running or jumping.
3. Lack of balance ” Some ankle sprains occur because you weren't able to respond to a disruption in your balance fast enough. Working on your balance can help you respond faster in similar situations and prevent rolled ankles.
4. Poor flexibility ” Flexibility and a high range of motion prevents your ankle ligaments from overstretching, which is the primary cause of sprained ankles.
5. Improper walking technique ” You're supposed to place your weight on the big-toe side of your foot when you walk, but many people do the opposite. Adjusting your walking form could help you fix your problem.
Should you seek physical therapy for a sprained ankle?
While most rolled ankles heal on their own, physical therapy can aid in recovery and help you prevent future sprains. Your therapist will work to determine why you keep rolling your ankle so that they can help you make preventive adjustments moving forward.
Whether you need help with strength, balance, flexibility or just your walking technique, physical therapy could help.
Alliance PTP is ready to help you find top-notch PT for your rolled ankle
At Alliance Physical Therapy Partners, we're proudly bringing together physical therapy practices across the country to help people get the high-quality PT they need. Want to see a physical therapist in person? We can put you in touch with an Alliance PTP partner that's close to you and that can help you address your ankle issues.
Not keen on in-person PT sessions or not close to an Alliance PTP partner? No worries. We also offer effective and affordable virtual physical therapy through our Agile Virtual Physical Therapy platform.
Contact our team today so we can help you find the most effective physical therapy services for your injury or condition.
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