eMedicine Specialties > Orthopedic Surgery > Foot & Ankle

Acute Ankle Sprains: Multimedia

Author: Ray Foster, MD, FACS, Medical Staff Physician, Black Hills Health and Education Center
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Apr 30, 2009

Multimedia

A 3-inch diameter solid rubber ball has been cut ...
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Media file 1: A 3-inch diameter solid rubber ball has been cut in half and each half has been glued to a different half-inch plywood board 5 inches wide and 1 foot long. The size of the board is cut to the size of the patient's foot. This is a proprioceptive board used for rehabilitation exercises after immobilization for treatment of ankle sprains. Both halves of the ball are pictured on 2 proprioceptive boards. Only 1 board is used for each patient. The plywood board is covered with carpet or cloth to give it an aesthetically pleasing finish. The carpet covering has no effect on the board's function other than cosmetic; this may possibly aid in exercise compliance.
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A 3-inch diameter solid rubber ball has been cut ...

A 3-inch diameter solid rubber ball has been cut in half and each half has been glued to a different half-inch plywood board 5 inches wide and 1 foot long. The size of the board is cut to the size of the patient's foot. This is a proprioceptive board used for rehabilitation exercises after immobilization for treatment of ankle sprains. Both halves of the ball are pictured on 2 proprioceptive boards. Only 1 board is used for each patient. The plywood board is covered with carpet or cloth to give it an aesthetically pleasing finish. The carpet covering has no effect on the board's function other than cosmetic; this may possibly aid in exercise compliance.

The proprioceptive board exercises are of 2 level...
(Enlarge Image)
Media file 2: The proprioceptive board exercises are of 2 levels of difficulty depending on which way the board is aligned relative to the foot. Pictured is the minimal level of range of motion of dorsiflexion and plantarflexion. This is the foot and board alignment to use at first. Exercises are done bearing weight as tolerated and by looking at the foot as it is exercised to aid in proprioceptive reinforcement. The usual protocol calls for 10 minutes of exercises, 10 movements each in dorsiflexion, plantarflexion, varus and valgus. For minimal-level varus and valgus movement, the alignment of the board relative to the foot must be rotated 90° so that the side-to-side movement in varus and valgus is a minimal range position initially. These exercises are performed once a day at a minimum for 3-6 weeks of rehabilitation. Patients should hold on to something to steady themselves as necessary while performing the exercises.
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The proprioceptive board exercises are of 2 level...

The proprioceptive board exercises are of 2 levels of difficulty depending on which way the board is aligned relative to the foot. Pictured is the minimal level of range of motion of dorsiflexion and plantarflexion. This is the foot and board alignment to use at first. Exercises are done bearing weight as tolerated and by looking at the foot as it is exercised to aid in proprioceptive reinforcement. The usual protocol calls for 10 minutes of exercises, 10 movements each in dorsiflexion, plantarflexion, varus and valgus. For minimal-level varus and valgus movement, the alignment of the board relative to the foot must be rotated 90° so that the side-to-side movement in varus and valgus is a minimal range position initially. These exercises are performed once a day at a minimum for 3-6 weeks of rehabilitation. Patients should hold on to something to steady themselves as necessary while performing the exercises.

This photo shows the maximum range of motion in v...
(Enlarge Image)
Media file 3: This photo shows the maximum range of motion in varus. This is the second level of difficulty exercises that may be performed when the first level, with limited range of motion, is fully mastered and performed for a week or 2 with no difficulty. The maximum range of motion in dorsiflexion and plantarflexion is achieved with the foot aligned 90° from what is shown, so that the heel and the toes hang over the sides of the board, allowing for maximum range of motion. The advantages of using such a proprioceptive board as shown are that the board can be made to size to accommodate feet of different sizes and it is easily made using low-cost, readily available materials. These exercises achieve 3 goals: range of motion with stretching of healing ligaments, muscle strengthening, and proprioceptive training. Diligent performance of postsprain rehabilitation exercises is 1 of the keys to complete resolution of postinjury symptoms.
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This photo shows the maximum range of motion in v...

This photo shows the maximum range of motion in varus. This is the second level of difficulty exercises that may be performed when the first level, with limited range of motion, is fully mastered and performed for a week or 2 with no difficulty. The maximum range of motion in dorsiflexion and plantarflexion is achieved with the foot aligned 90° from what is shown, so that the heel and the toes hang over the sides of the board, allowing for maximum range of motion. The advantages of using such a proprioceptive board as shown are that the board can be made to size to accommodate feet of different sizes and it is easily made using low-cost, readily available materials. These exercises achieve 3 goals: range of motion with stretching of healing ligaments, muscle strengthening, and proprioceptive training. Diligent performance of postsprain rehabilitation exercises is 1 of the keys to complete resolution of postinjury symptoms.

More on Acute Ankle Sprains

Overview: Acute Ankle Sprains
Workup: Acute Ankle Sprains
Treatment: Acute Ankle Sprains
Follow-up: Acute Ankle Sprains
Multimedia: Acute Ankle Sprains
References
Further Reading
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Keywords

acute ankle sprain, turned ankle, stretched ankle, deltoid ligament sprain, anterior talofibular sprain, talofibular sprain, medial or lateral ankle sprains, distal talofibular syndesmotic sprain, high ankle sprain, inversion sprain, chronic ankle sprain, chronic ankle laxity, double ligament lateral ankle sprain, ankle pain, twisted ankle

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Ray Foster, MD, FACS, Medical Staff Physician, Black Hills Health and Education Center
Ray Foster, MD, FACS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

James K DeOrio, MD, Director of Foot and Ankle Fellowship Program, Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, St Lukes Hospital, Jacksonville, Florida
James K DeOrio, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society, Florida Medical Association, and German Society of Neurology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Shepard R Hurwitz, MD, Executive Director, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
Shepard R Hurwitz, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American College of Rheumatology, American College of Sports Medicine, American College of Surgeons, American Diabetes Association, American Orthopaedic Association, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine, Eastern Orthopaedic Association, Orthopaedic Research Society, Orthopaedic Trauma Association, and Southern Orthopaedic Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Dinesh Patel, MD, FACS, Associate Clinical Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, Harvard Medical School; Chief of Arthroscopic Surgery, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital
Dinesh Patel, MD, FACS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, American College of International Physicians, and American College of Surgeons
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Jason H Calhoun, MD, FAAOS, Chairman, J Vernon Luck Distinguished Professor, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Missouri
Jason H Calhoun, MD, FAAOS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American College of Surgeons, and American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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