Check out our August 2023 Newsletter, highlighting physical therapy for rotator cuff tears, best exercise to address ankle stiffness, physical therapy for vertigo, and aquatic therapy balance training.

An ankle sprain is a common injury that occurs when the foot twists or turns beyond its normal range of movement, causing the ankle’s ligaments to overstretch or tear. Ankle sprains account for up to 40% of lower extremity sports injuries and 15% of all sports injuries in the United States. Physical therapy is the first line of treatment for ankle sprains, effectively restoring mobility, strength, and function in the injured ankle, preventing re-injury, and ensuring a safe return to sport through a targeted exercise and manual therapy rehabilitation program.

Check out our March 2023 Newsletter, highlighting physical therapy for frozen shoulder, our spring donation drive, how physical therapy can slow the aging process, and how to prevent an ankle sprain.

Ankle sprains are one of the most common sports injuries that occur when the foot twists beyond its normal range of movement, causing the ankle's ligaments to overstretch or tear. If you do not receive timely and effective treatment after your first ankle sprain, the risk of recurrent ankle sprains and chronic ankle instability is high. It’s essential to work with a physical therapist to address an ankle sprain and restore ankle joint biomechanics, strength, and balance safely before returning to sport or activity.

Snowboarding is an intense winter sport requiring excellent balance, coordination, and agility while descending packed snow-covered slopes at high speed. Due to the high speeds and momentum gained when snowboarding, injuries due to falling are common and most often involve injury to the upper body, such as wrist fractures, separated shoulders, ligament and tendon tears in the shoulder, and concussions. A physical therapist can help a snowboarder not only recover from injury and safely return to the slopes but also prepare for the snowboarding season through a targeted strength and conditioning program.

Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction (PTDD) is one of the most common problems of the foot and ankle that occurs when the posterior tibial tendon is inflamed or torn, leading to an acquired flat foot. PTDD most often results from overuse due to repetitive loading on the tendon that causes microtrauma, inflammation, and eventually a tear of the posterior tibial tendon. Physical therapy can restore flexibility and strength in the foot and ankle, alleviate pain, and help patients return to the highest level of function.

Ankle impingement can occur when either soft or bony tissues are compressed within the ankle joint at the extreme end of a motion, such as pointing the foot sharply downward. This condition commonly affects gymnasts, dancers, runners, and football, soccer, and volleyball players as these activities require either a repetitive kicking motion or repeated extremes of ankle motion in dorsiflexion or plantarflexion. Physical therapy can reduce ankle impingement pain, heal and strengthen the ankle complex, improve overall balance, and help athletes and dancers return to sport and dance safely.

Peroneal tendinopathy is a condition involving inflammation of the peroneal tendons, which run along the outer ankle bone and side of the foot, often due to overuse or a sudden increase in activity. Physical therapy can successfully treat peroneal tendinopathy, helping reduce strain on the ankle and foot and strengthening the ankle muscles to withstand the demands placed on them.

Check out our March 2021 Newsletter with updates on total joint replacement rehabilitation, treatment for wrist and hand injuries, how to improve your ankle mobility with physical therapist Bobby, and celebrating #NationalNurtritionMonth.

Today, Mangiarelli Rehabilitation physical therapist, Bobby, demonstrates three exercises to improve ankle mobility. The ankle is a hinge joint connecting the foot and lower leg that allows our foot to move through a wide range of motion and perform daily activities of walking, squatting, and climbing stairs. Ankle mobility is critical to not only accommodate movement, acceleration, and sudden changes of direction in daily tasks and sports, but also takes stress off of and prevents injury in the knees, legs, and hips.