Get Relief for Your Sports Injury and Get Back in the Game!
Thomas was an avid high school soccer player with dreams of making it to the college level. He trained hard and played even harder, but one misstep during a match changed everything. As he lunged for the ball, he felt a sharp pain in his ankle and crumpled to the ground. The diagnosis was quick but disheartening: an ankle sprain.
Fortunately, at Maccio Physical Therapy, our therapists are skilled at identifying and treating all types of sports injuries. Our therapists will conduct a whole-body assessment to ensure we identify all the factors that may impact recovery and design our programs tailored to the individual.
Give us a call today to learn more about our programs and set up an appointment with one of our physical therapists!
Identifying an Ankle Sprain
At first, Thomas didn’t know the severity of his injury. Like many, he thought he could just ‘walk it off.’ However, the key signs were there:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Difficulty putting weight on the foot
Ankle sprains occur when the ligaments that support the ankle stretch beyond their limits and tear. When Thomas landed awkwardly, he twisted his ankle in the process. Although ankle sprains are common in sports and often ignored, getting proper care is critical to quick recovery and reducing the risk of future injuries.
Unfortunately, too often, athletes don’t want to miss out on competing and “play through” injuries. Ankle sprains, in particular, are susceptible to recurrent sprains, especially when not properly rehabilitated.
Our Patients Get Great Results
“Before doing therapy, I had wrist pain due to sports, I could not go to the gym or play basketball, and it even affected my daily life. I had constant pain when I did dishes or tried to lift things. Now I feel much better, I can do daily chores with no problem, and I can go back to my normal sport and exercise routine.” – Fansu M.
“I came in with a torn hamstring and was unable to walk without crutches. Within 2 weeks, I was able to walk pain-free. I am now hoping to return to soccer in the coming weeks.” – Caden R.
The Road to Recovery
Thomas’s journey to recovery began with a visit to Maccio Physical Therapy. He was evaluated by one of our skilled physical therapists and given guidance on how to recover quickly and get back into the game!
Initial Steps
Initially, Thomas’s therapy focused on reducing his pain, eliminating his swelling, and restoring his mobility. This involved:
- M.I.C.E (Move, Ice, Compression, Elevation): This simple method is crucial in the early stages of an ankle sprain. Thomas learned to keep moving his ankle, apply ice to reduce pain, and use compression with elevation to reduce the swelling.
Building Strength and Stability
Once the swelling reduced, Thomas’s therapy shifted gears towards rebuilding strength and stability. This phase included:
- Strengthening Exercises: Thomas worked on exercises to strengthen the muscles around his ankle. These included toe raises and resistance band exercises.
- Balance Training: To regain stability, Thomas practiced balancing exercises. This was crucial to prevent future sprains.
Regaining Functionality
The final phase of Thomas’s therapy centered on getting him back to his pre-injury level and back on the field. This involved:
- Functional Training: Thomas gradually returned to activities that mimicked soccer movements.
- Sport-Specific Drills: As he regained strength, sport-specific exercises were introduced to prepare him for returning to soccer.
Through his recovery, Thomas also learned how to perform sport-specific warm-ups, the importance of sleep, and regular conditioning to prevent injuries.
Sources: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3103112/, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29514819/, https://www.jospt.org/doi/10.2519/jospt.2021.0503
Embrace The Recovery Blueprint and Get Back in Action!
Thomas’s story is a reminder of the importance of addressing sports injuries with the guidance from our team at Maccio Physical Therapy. Take the first step in healing your ankle sprain and returning to the sport you love by calling today to schedule an appointment!
Greta, Wills, Fritz, & Roberta’s Corner
We’re Celebrating 39 Years In Business
We’re proud to celebrate our 39th year in business here in Troy, NY. Back in 1986, we first opened our doors on Hoosick St. (at the site of the Troy Hilton Garden Hotel). Since then, we have continued to grow substantially and have had the opportunity to meet and help thousands of patients from the Capital Region and beyond. We continue to see a record number of new patients coming into our clinic every year, with the majority of patients referred by you, our former patients. We cannot thank you enough for your continued support throughout the years. We pride ourselves on providing the highest quality of healthcare and will continue to do so for years to come.
