Physiotherapy is a crucial part of managing anterior ankle impingement, aiming to reduce pain and inflammation, restore range of motion and strength, and improve overall function. Treatment typically involves a combination of the following:

 Pain and Inflammation Management

• Rest and Activity Modification: Avoiding activities that aggravate the pain is the first step to allow healing.
• Ice and Heat Therapy: Applying ice packs can help reduce pain and swelling, especially after activity. Heat may be used before exercises to improve blood circulation and tissue flexibility.
• Electrotherapy: Modalities like ultrasound or electrical stimulation might be used to help reduce pain and inflammation.
• Manual Therapy: Soft tissue massage around the ankle can help reduce pain and improve circulation.

Restoring Range of Motion

• Passive Mobilization: A physiotherapist may gently move your ankle joint to improve its range of motion, particularly dorsiflexion.
• Stretching Exercises: You’ll be guided through specific stretches to improve ankle flexibility in all directions. Examples include:
  • Dorsiflexion Stretch: With the knee bent, gently pull the heel downwards and the toes upwards.
  • Plantar flexion Stretch: Gently pull the toes downwards and the heel upwards.
• Strengthening Exercises:- Once pain and inflammation are reduced, strengthening the muscles around the ankle is essential for stability and support. Exercises may include using resistance bands to perform:
  • Ankle Dorsiflexion: Pulling the toes towards the shin against resistance.
  • Ankle Plantar flexion: Pointing the toes downwards against resistance.
  • Ankle Inversion: Turning the sole of the foot inwards against resistance.
  • Ankle Eversion: Turning the sole of the foot outwards against resistance.
  • Calf Raises: Strengthening the calf muscles.

Improving Balance and Proprioception:

Proprioception is your body’s ability to sense the position and movement of your joints. Impaired proprioception can contribute to instability and further injury. Exercises to improve balance and proprioception include:

• Single-leg stands: Gradually increasing the duration.
• Balance board or wobble board exercises: To challenge ankle stability.
• Heel-to-toe walking: Improving balance and coordination.

Functional Exercises:

As you progress, Physiotherapist will introduce exercises that mimic the movements required for your daily activities or sport. This could include:

• Walking and running drills.
• Agility exercises.
• Sport-specific movements.

Taping

In some cases, athletic tape may be used to provide support and limit excessive movement during activities.