Chiropractor's Guide to treating an Ankle Sprain by a Podiatrist

Chiropractors should not fear ankle sprains.  99% of ankle sprains are self limiting and will get better regardless of the treatment that is rendered.  The Chiropractor approach to the ankle sprain should be about treating the acute injury and then strengthening the effected ligaments via Physical Therapy.

An Ankle sprain's initial presentation generally are from a sporting event such as basketball or soccer.  The player cuts and turns his ankle.  Generally the ankle will appeared swollen with possible discoloration.  Purple discoloration does not mean that the ankle is fracture it only means there has been some trauma to  the area.  Initial treatment of the sprained ankle should include ankle X-rays.  If you are not confident in reading Ankle X rays to check for fracture, you should not be treating ankle sprains, refer them to a podiatrist.  Other signs that would indicate fracture are extreme pain and the complete inability to place weight on the effected extremity.  Following that a Chiropractor should palpate the ankle ligaments, with specific attention paid towards the Anterior Talo Fibular Ligaments and Calcaneofibular ligaments, those are the two most likely to be torn.  A torn ligament does not require surgery it is a normal pathology present in an ankle sprain.  Here is an example of an Ankle Sprain examination:

Following the exam the first treatment of an ankle sprain, is to have the patient initiate the RICE formula, which means Rest Ice Compression and elevation all of which can be accomplished easily.  Here are some products you might stock to help the patient, most of these insurance will not reimburse for:

Following that the goal is to reduce the swelling, the Chiropractor should not perform physical therapy while the ankle is still swollen.  The swelling will generally reduce in 48-72 hours post injury.  But to be safe wait a week before being the ankle physical therapy.  Prior, to the Chiropractor beginning Physical Therapy, he should place the patient in an ankle brace of some make, in order to give compression and support to the injured ligaments.  Some of these braces are reimburse from insurance greater then 100 dollars.  Here are some examples:

In addition to the brace, the Chiropractor at this time should begin Physical Therapy and the sprained ankle as demonstrated here:

Now if after 4 weeks the patient still complains of pain at the time the Chiropractor should refer that patient to a Podiatrist.  As other issues may be going on with the patient such as an undiagnosed fractures, or ligaments that need to be surgically repaired.