When you injure your ankle, it can make every step painful. While it may be tempting to stay off your feet until it heals on its own, life doesn’t slow down for an injured ankle. That’s why it’s important to learn about the cause of your pain and the best way to treat it with the help of a physical therapist.
Two of the most common ways that an ankle can be injured is with a sprain or a break. But what’s the difference between a sprained ankle and a broken ankle? How can physical therapy help them heal? That’s what we’re here to answer.
We’ll compare a sprained ankle versus broken ankle before diving into the benefits of using physical therapy to treat them. We’ll also discuss specific PT techniques that may be included in a treatment plan for an injured ankle.
Comparing a sprained ankle vs. broken ankle
People often use the terms “sprained ankle” and “broken ankle” interchangeably, but they are separate injuries that affect different parts of the ankle. Let’s start by defining each one. A sprained ankle refers to damage of the ligaments in the ankle due to overstretching while a broken ankle refers to fractured bones in the joint.
It’s worth noting that it’s possible to experience a sprained and broken ankle at the same time.
A sprained ankle and broken ankle can have similar symptoms, including:
- Pain.
- Swelling.
- Bruising.
- Instability.
There’s a couple of definitive differences to take into account, especially in appearance. It’s possible for a sprained ankle to appear red and warm to the touch. Broken ankles can cause noticeable deformity in the surrounding bones, such as a protrusion or irregular alignment.
Knowing about the different causes of each one can also lead you to a possible diagnosis, though both usually stem from trauma and can occur while playing sports. A sprained ankle is often the result of rolling your ankle or awkwardly landing after a jump. A broken ankle can be caused by blunt trauma, such as a fall or car accident.
Minor sprains and fractures can heal on their own, but at different speeds. A sprained ankle can take up to six weeks to heal before you have restored mobility of the joint. A broken ankle may take a bit longer, with the average healing period taking up to eight weeks. Severe ankle injuries may require surgery.
How physical therapy can treat a sprained ankle vs. broken ankle
Even though many cases of sprained and broken ankles can heal on their own, the pain, instability and decreased range of motion during that time can still interfere with your quality of life. That’s why physical therapy is often recommended to people with injured ankles as a way to help alleviate the symptoms.
Physical therapy can help sprained and broken ankles by:
- Accelerating the recovery process.
- Reducing pain.
- Improving ankle strength and flexibility.
- Increasing the ankle joint’s range of motion.
- Decreasing the risk of future injury or re-injury.
Physical therapy techniques that treat a sprained ankle vs. broken ankle
The goal of physical therapy for a sprained or broken ankle is to alleviate the pain while increasing the overall mobility and function of the ankle. Your physical therapist will do an evaluation of your ankle to determine the cause of the injury before creating a personalized treatment plan to decrease the symptoms and rehabilitate the area.
Your treatment plan will likely center on therapeutic exercises to alleviate the pain and boost the overall quality of your ankle. Your therapist will walk you through safe and effective exercises that will strengthen the surrounding muscles to increase stability and decrease the risk of future falls. Your physical therapist will also help you increase the flexibility and range of motion of your ankle through guided stretches.
It’s possible that your treatment plan will include a common manual therapy technique called joint mobilization. It involves the physical therapist using their hands to stretch the affected muscles to increase the joints’ range of motion and alleviate pain. It’s helpful for sprained ankles as well as the pain following surgery on a broken ankle.
Alliance PTP can connect you with the physical therapy practice you need for sprained ankle vs. broken ankle treatment
Ready to try in-person physical therapy for your injury or condition? You’ll find plenty of options to choose from among the Alliance Physical Therapy Partners practices nationwide.
Our team can quickly put you in touch with one of our partner clinics near you, and their friendly and knowledgeable local staff can help you find care for your sprained ankle or broken ankle.
Don’t have the time to see a physical therapist in person? Not a problem. Alliance PTP and its partners can also see you virtually in nearly every state.
Still have questions about what we and our partners can do for you? We’re ready to answer them and help you find the physical therapy you need.