Here, Shane Brennan, our foot and ankle specialist physiotherapist, describes a recent case where he supported a patient through an ankle sprain recovery, during which, she managed to play a county final – and win!
Client Bio
Patient X is a 28 year old female, who works full-time as a biomedical scientist, and is a keen camogie player.
Background
She first attended me in October, five days before her county final. She had rolled her ankle nearly two weeks prior, playing in the county semi-final. She attended a local private injury clinic and was told there was an ankle fracture and was put in a boot. Luckily, she was contacted by the radiologist later that week and was told that there was no fracture, but to remain in the boot until she saw a physiotherapist.
Initial Assessment
On initial assessment, patient X had a painful, swollen ankle. She had limited ankle dorsiflexion, reduced balance and strength, and was tender to touch. When hopping, she reported 5/10 pain. Luckily, her ankle was relatively stable, with no laxity on anterior drawer testing.
The Challenge
I diagnosed her with a lateral ankle sprain, and based on assessment findings, felt that it was likely a low grade 2 sprain. Treatment involved manual therapy to increase active dorsiflexion, and gentle exercises to increase pain-free range of movement.
Because of the proximity to the county final, I felt we were unlikely to make huge strides in terms of strength or balance, so treatment focused on increasing confidence in the ankle. The patient was also taught how to tape her own ankle and was told to tape it before the match and again at half time.
The Results
Thankfully she got through the county final, scoring 2 points as she captained her team to win. She did suffer a minor re-sprain near the end of the match but was able to play through it.
When she returned to me at the end of October, she had improved range of movement and strength, although her balance was slightly worse. She will likely need 12 weeks of rehabilitation to increase dynamic balance and function, so we have started that process now.
Key Take-Home Points
- Not all ankle sprains are the same. A thorough assessment by physiotherapist (ideally a foot and ankle specialist) is essential to determine the severity and stability of the injury, as some ankle injuries would not tolerate continued sporting activity.
- Imaging alone does not provide the full picture. Clinical examination by an experienced physiotherapist is crucial in guiding safe return-to-play decisions.
- Short-term strategies (such as taping and activity modification) can support performance when timelines are tight, but they do not replace proper rehabilitation.
- A structured, progressive rehab programme guided by an experienced physiotherapist is key to restoring confidence, performance, and reducing the risk of future injury.
- Inadequate rehabilitation significantly increases the risk of re-sprain and long-term ankle instability.
Learn More
Visit Shane’s website bio, or learn more about the foot and ankle clinic at Mid West Physiotherapy.
Online booking is available for this service; no doctor’s referral needed.