Blog

05 Sep 2016

Arghhh! I sprained my ankle running agility with my dog! Will I still be able to compete??

Ankle sprains are one of the most common injuries among agility dog handlers. Running on uneven terrain, accompanied by quick changes in direction, stops and turns puts the agility handler at increased risk of rolling an ankle.

Ligaments are the tissue that hold bones together and a sprain means that one or more of the ligaments in the ankle have been damaged. A lateral ankle sprain occurs when the ankle inverts (toes turn inward and foot is pointing down), and the ligaments on the outside of the ankle are damaged. A medial ankle sprain occurs when the ankle is everted (toes turn outward and foot is pointing upward), and the ligaments on the inside of the ankle are damaged.

                      Lateral ligaments of the ankle:                            Medial ligaments of the ankle:

Now, having an ankle sprain doesn’t necessarily mean time away from training and competition, but depends on the severity of the sprain…There are three degrees of ankle sprain:

Grade I:

• Minimal swelling
• Ligament is tender to touch
• No ligament laxity (ligament has not been ‘stretched’)
• Typical recovery time is 2-10 days

Grade 2:

• Mild to moderate swelling
• One or more ligaments are painful to touch
• Walking with a limp • Moderate ligament laxity (ankle is more ‘loose’)
• Typical recovery time is 1-4 weeks

Grade 3:

• Moderate to severe swelling
• Unable to walk and put weight on the ankle
• Ligaments are somewhat tender to touch
• Ligaments are very lax – ankle is ‘unstable’
• Typical recovery time is 4-12 weeks

** Usually there is bruising with each Grade of ankle sprain, but may not appear until a few days after the injury**

A Physiotherapist can assess your ankle and determine which Grade of injury you have, and can provide treatment so that you can get back to training and competition with your dog as soon as possible!

Treatment:

The recovery from an ankle sprain is faster for a Grade I sprain than a Grade 2 or 3, but the Physiotherapy GOALS of the treatment are the same:

• Reduce pain and swelling –with ice, ultrasound, laser, etc
• Protect the ligament to prevent further damage – taping/bracing
• Restore range-of-motion- stretching and range-of-motion exercises
• Improve strength-specific exercises for muscles that support the ankle – including muscles of the hip!

• Re-train balance and proprioception (the sense of position of the ankle – so the brain knows if the ankle is about to roll over, then sends quick signals to the appropriate muscles to reflexively contract to avoid spraining it again!)

• Progressive exercise program for a safe return to the demands of agility handling…

Without treatment, the ligament will go through a healing process, but without treatment and specific work on the reflexes and muscles around the ankle, there is a much greater chance of re-injury and/or secondary compensating injuries in other areas (ie knee, hip…).

Consult a Physiotherapist at Two Hands Physiotherapy to help with your ankle and get you back to training and competition ASAP!