DD has re-sprained her ankle a year after it healed. She plays lots of sports. Would physio help prevent reinjury?

[riro]

It's all in the title but I'll elaborate. She badly sprained her ankle last spring - on a friends' trampoline. It took a few months to heal but was healed by September luckily when her sport season started. About 4 weeks ago she re-sprained it playing netball. It's now athletics season and she's reluctant to sit out but every time she runs on it, it swells up.

1. do I need to get her to stop using it for a set number of weeks in order for it to heal?
2. Would physio help it to heal faster?

3 Would physio help to prevent reinjury?

1. How much does private sports physio cost for a child (she's 12) and how many times would she need to go? I could pay for a few sessions but not for months on end.
2. Is there any chance of getting sports physio via the NHS?

Anyone?

My dd had a weak ankle which caused problems when dancing. She had a couple of physio appointments on the nhs (if I remember correctly we had to wait about a month between gp referral and first physio appointment). The physio recommended various exercises for strengthening. This seemed to help, although dd has given up dance now. As far as I'm aware, the nhs is general physio rather than sports.

Having been a sporty person for many years and having suffered torn ankle ligaments, I found a private sports physio more thorough and understanding. They understand that you want to play sport and that you are keen to miss as little as possible. As you say, going private can be expensive and prices probably vary throughout the country. I'm guessing a little here as it's a good few years since my appointments, but I would say you might be looking at £40 for a first appointment and a bit less for follow ups.

I doubt you would need lots off appointments whichever route you take. Your dd would be given exercises to do at home and instructions to help take care of her ankle (ice etc). She might be recommended to use a support for a while, either purchasing or strapping/taping in a specific way.

Not sure if that's any help, but good luck!

My running DS uses a wobble board to strenghten his ankles. It's helped both him and my non sporty DD who had a tendancy to go over on her ankles.

Whenever i've had private physio in the past it's normally only taken a couple of appointments to sort problems out. Then it's just a matter of following their exercise plan.

yes, she needs to rest.
yes physio can help the healing, it's more than exercises.
prevent injury, not sure buf def helps wrt to being more concious of movement.

Thank you. I have been strapping it when I know she has Games or PE. I have tried to find a slip on ankle support small enough for her to keep in her bag and put on herself, but nowhere I've looked (online and in shops) makes one little enough to fit snugly. I will contact some local physios and see what they charge. Thanks again for sharing what you know.

yes, you should get some advice from a physio

ask your GP to refer you

DD has had physio when left with a weak ankle after a bad sprain - her whole foot was black and the swelling was huge.

Part of the physio was to reduce the scarring on the ligaments (really powerful massage) and she also had some exercise to strengthen the muscles to help prevent re-injury.

It's hard to say if it has made a difference but the physio seemed fairly sure it would.