Sports Physiotherapy Management of Ankle Injuries

Injuries to the ankle (predominantly sprains) are especially prevalent in weight-bearing sports and activities, accounting for 10-30 per cent of all sports injuries. Even uncomplicated ankle sprain can have residual problems including pain, tenderness, swelling, mechanical and functional instability, and risk of recurring injury.

The APA sports physiotherapist in our practice treat a variety of athletes and can help your patients with ankle injuries to regain strength, mobility, balance and coordination. Physiotherapists carry out research-based clinical tests to reliably identify which part of the ankle has sustained injury (ligament, joint etc) and assess impairment, to ensure treatment is specific.

Once diagnosed, evidence shows that early functional mobilisation (rather than immobilisation) – complemented by medical treatment such as oral and topical non-steroidal medication, prove very effective for acute injuries. Ice, low-level laser and passive joint mobilisation are also beneficial – adequate cooling (ice) following ankle sprain has been found to reduce pain spasm and neural inhibition, allowing for earlier introduction of more advanced exercises.

Evidence also supports the prescription of a supervised functional rehabilitation program for greater reduction of swelling, faster return to sport and work, and to prevent recurring injury.

Of more than five million sports injuries in Australia every year, many are ankle injuries. Evidence shows that physiotherapy plays a critical role in the management of acute injury and the restoration of full function to the ankle.

To read the rest of this pamphlet, download it here  Physio In Practice: Ankle Injuries and Patellofemoral Pain

David Francis (Co Director) has followed in the path of Nathan Buckley to the coaching of his sons local footy team, the Ashburton Redbacks. “Giving back to the local community, is part of our philosophy here at Physioworks Health Group.”

David "Scruff" Francis Collingwood FC Head Physiotherapist photo credit: Collingwood FC

David is also full steam ahead with the Collingwood Football Club and looking forward to another busy year as Head Physiotherapist for the Club.

For the first time this year, Chris Seville (Physioworks Health Group Cranbourne, Pakenham and Camberwell practices), has joined David and commenced employment with the CFC. He is enjoying the challenge of being involved in the elite sports area.

Chris is also busy visiting our local gymnasiums promoting the physiotherapy services of the Physioworks Health Group Camberwell team.

Andrew Dalwood (Co Director here at Camberwell and Director of Waverley Park Physiotherapy Centre) is assisting various Camberwell workplaces in office desk analysis, working at educating the staff on posture and correct office setup. “This was a great opportunity to be involved in local business and stressing the importance of good posture and best work practices.”

Andrew has also been teaching at La Trobe University, assisting in the development of physiotherapy education.

Anthony Fernon is working outside his regular schedule at Physioworks Health Group Camberwell in assisting the Hawthorn Football Club as an adjunct to his work with the Box Hill FC who are well into preparation for the coming AFL season. Anthony spends his time working between the Waverley Park Physiotherapy Centre as well as here at Physioworks Camberwell.

One Minute Health Helper

Every time you walk through a doorway, do a quick posture check: Ensure your weight is equal between your left and right foot, and between the ball and heel of each foot. Straighten up so your ears, shoulders and hips are in vertical alignment, tuck your tummy in and ‘think tall.’

Read more about Andrew’s Health Tips on our Waverley Park Physiotherapy website about ‘Think Posture‘.

Get Active For Summer

As the warm weather hits, many of us have the same reaction. The reality of ditching the layers and revealing our bodies can be daunting. Don’t panic! There’s still time to get in shape, not just to look good, but to make the most of the warm weather and get active.

To read more, click here =>Physio for You – Active for Summer to download your copy in PDF version.

The conference is always exciting and a great learning opportunity for new and old physiotherapists alike. There was an expected audience of over 2,000 members supported by an exhibition trade of over 100 booths!

Andrew and David packed their bags and trekked up to Brisbane with their supportive (and lovely) wives for the conference. Not only were they there to mingle with some of the great minds in the field, but also for the admission of Fellowes to the Australian College of Physiotherapy (FACP). It is a tremendous achievement and honour to become a Specialist Physiotherapist.

As leaders in their field, these physiotherapists offer the highest level of expertise in assessing, treating and managing complex and difficult musculoskeletal problems.

Andrew Dalwood stated:

The journey started in December 2008 and the final examinations were performed in Brisbane November 2009. This was an exhaustive period combining work, study and family, but very rewarding in the end. The ceremony now nearly two years later brought back all the feelings of achievement and reflection of the greater knowledge gained and improvements in my clinical management of my patients. (Read more from Andrew about his journey here..)

Currently, there are approximately 100 Specialist Physiotherapists in Australia, eight of whom are practicing Specialist Musculoskeletal Physiotherapists in Victoria, two of whom are pictured above.

From all of us at Physioworks Health Group, we’d like to congratulate you both David and Andrew for completing this cycle of your journey.

Worried about your levels of hydration?

With summer on its way and the summer sports just around the corner Physioworks would like to take this opportunity to provide a quick refresher on hydration. Hydration is important throughout the year, whether you are playing a sport, working in an office or studying for the next big test.

There is a stupendous amount of information on the internet regarding hydration (and here I am adding to it!). You have some sources (?with invested interests) claiming you cannot drink enough water/sports drinks, then others with titles like “Drink More Water? Just Say No, Doc Says”.

But how to make sense of it all?

The first thing would have to be: Consider the context.

Who is the target audience of the information you are reading?

There is going to be a significant difference between the hydration demands of an office worker to that of a triathlete during a competition. Additionally the body’s requirements will potentially differ as you age, as such, you have to make sure that the advice you are reading applies to you. This should, hopefully, be clearly outlined by the author.

Some of the key things that will have an impact on your personal requirements will be:

For what setting is the information written?

As with the previous comparison there will be a difference between the hydration requirements in different weather conditions. The body will respond quite differently when performing in hot humid conditions to that of dry cool conditions and even different again if you are in an aquatic setting!

The process of sweating allows heat loss via evaporation; energy/heat is lost as the water is converted from a liquid to a gas. As you can imagine this process is hindered in certain conditions, namely, humid and aquatic.

Where should the water come from?

The original guidelines that suggested the 8 cups of water (at approx. 340mL each) a day was based on your overall water in-take needs. While often understated, this included the water that is found in anything you consume, any fluids with water, juicy foods including vegetables etc.

Is thirst a good guide for when to drink?

This is something that you should try and answer for yourself. Everyone is different and everyone’s body will respond differently. The point that dehydration ‘starts’ and when you feel thirsty may differ from one person to the next. So for some people, in the right setting this will be a suitable guide. To see if thirst is a suitable guideline for you, you should first be aware of the signs and symptoms of dehydration. Then during the day watch for the signs and symptoms carefully and compare the onset of thirst to the onset of any signs and symptoms.

As with many conditions, dehydration will present in a range of different ways. Below I have listed some of the common symptoms of mild dehydration; they are not in any specific order as they may become apparent in range of orders and combinations with each individual.

Signs and symptoms

• Headache
• Fatigue
• Decreased urine output/darker more yellow urine
• Dry mouth
• Lightheadedness (especially when standing) (decreased blood pressure
• Weakness
• The eyes stop making tears (most noticeable when crying)
• Sweating may stop
• Muscle cramps
• Nausea and vomiting
• Heart palpitations

The symptoms will get more severe the longer dehydration process is allowed to continue.

If you find that you become thirsty before you notice any of the other symptoms and you do not have any other underlining conditions (for example, some kidney diseases will have different hydration requirements) thirst may be a good guide for when to have a drink to top up your fluid levels. However, be aware that different situation may require a different approach. Hotter temperatures or stressful circumstances may lead to thirst no longer being a good guide. You should also consider if you are playing sports, thirst is often not a good guide. This is because of the increased rate of dehydration, the change demands on your body and that you will be distracted from thinking about your thirst.  You may also have restricted opportunities to rehydrate.

Where to look for good information?

The main purpose of this blog is simply to direct you to some good sources of information.

Also linking you in with some information on cramping in athletes. While there is conflicting evidence as to the role of hydration and sodium levels in exercise induced cramping the information found in the following blog has been beneficial to many athletes.  WPPC’s Guide on Cramping in Athletes can be found HERE.

I hope this information points you in the right direction for your hydration queries. If you are still unsure, or have more questions please feel free to make an appointment with one of our experienced, friendly physiotherapists. Physioworks Camberwell’s phone number is 03 9889 6611

For more contact details visit our Contact and Appointments page.

Our clinic has had the opportunity to be a part of this trial with Andrew Dalwood being one of the treating therapists. We are pleased to announce that the trial has now reached the half-way mark with sixty-four people passing the screening process and becoming participants. Forty-seven of those participants have finished all of their physiotherapy visits and the second assessment at the university. With promising results being seen so far!

While everyone involved in the trial are very pleased to have hit the halfway mark, there is still the need for another sixty-four participants.

Eligible participants in the trial will receive physiotherapy treatment no cost.

To ensure the trial will provide useful evidence that will help direct treatment of people with hip osteoarthritis there are specific criteria for participants involved in this trial.

To take part in the trial you must:

• be aged 50 years or over
• have had hip pain on most days in the past month
• not have had a hip joint replacement

If you fit the above criteria, live in Melbourne’s metropolitan area and would like to find out further details please contact Joel Martin on 8344 0426.

Or visit their website:

http://www.physioth.unimelb.edu.au/chesm/volunteer.html

This newsletter has a look into headaches and overuse injuries. If you are suffering from headaches, ongoing aches and pains or know someone else that does, please take the time to have a read through this newsletter and let your friends know about it too.

Download the Newsletter now:-

Physio for You July 2011 <<< Click here

If you have an injury, don’t let it drag on, early assessment and treatment is very important for speedy recovery. We are always here to help you.

Thanks for checking in.

The full site will be online at the end of April, until then contact us via email: camberwell[at]physioworksvic.com.au or phone us on 03 9889 6611