Acupuncture, Ankle Sprains and Those Pesky Lawn Edgers

The lawn edging so deep and wide it has room for leaf storage!

Yes it's summer again!  Perfectly manicured lawns and the lawn edgers straining to hold encroaching pieces of turf away from the pavement in a deliberate, well-defined line.  These lines or troughs can vary in size from a small furrow to a cravass several inches wide and deep.  One of my patients (and I nearly did myself), rolled her ankle into one of these ditches while taking an evening stroll and fractured one of her metatarsal bones!  Another patient reported falling "off the edge" of one of these mini-ditches severely strain muscle and spraining ligaments in her ankle.  Neither of these injuries involved an athletic dive for a ball or a fall from a mountain trail, but the resultant injury was the same (we can embellish the story for entertainment value if the actual incident seems mundane!)

Ankle sprains/strains are the most common cause of visits to the emergency room in the United States alone.  Acute ankle trauma is responsible for 10 to 30 percent of sports-related injuries in young athletes. Each year an estimated 1 million persons present to health care practitioners with acute ankle injuries. Acute ankle injuries happen in contact, running, and jumping sports, and in accidents that can occur when someone stumbles or falls on an unstable or uneven surface and "rolls" their ankle. Ankle sprains range from mild, with no bruising, swelling, or damage to ligaments and joints, to severe, resulting in fractures and total disruption of ligaments and joints.   More than 40% of ankle sprains/strains have the potential to cause chronic problems.

Ankle Sprain Evaluation and Care

Any significant swelling or bruising following an ankle injury warrants prompt medical attention with an x-ray or range of motion evaluation of the ankle. Swelling can mask a complete ligament tear or fracture, either of which may require the care of an orthopedic surgeon.  Milder ankle sprains benefit from immediate "RICES" care (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation, Support) for at least 72 hours, including wearing a lateral stabilization brace, splint, or functional orthotic if the ankle is at all swollen or unstable. Prompt and aggressive control of swelling is key to preventing further injury because the swelling can cause more damage than the original injury by trapping blood and inflammatory substances in the injury site, and obstructing the drainage of waste and debris out through the lymphatic and venous return systems. "RICE" therapy, acupuncture lymphatic drainage massage, and ankle mobilization exercises can all help to drain swelling from a sprained ankle.  Specifically, acupuncture for ankle sprains can do three things. First of all, it increases the local (micro-) circulation which relieves the swelling, that enhances the healing process and alleviates pain at the same time. Secondary, acupuncture decreases pain by increasing a patient's tolerance and stimulates the release of endorphins. Thirdly, overall function can be improved thus milder pain is experienced.  The acupuncture needles once inserted are left in for 15-20 minutes. The number of treatments is dependent on the severity of the ankle sprain.  Most patients see some healing and relief within 4-8 closely spaced treatments in addition to practicing "RICES" on a regular basis.

All Is Well That Ends Well


Both of the previous mentioned patients had a full recovery and they continue to stroll at night and walk along the sidewalks of their neighborhoods albeit more cautiously than before.  I do my part by leaving my public walkways free from furrow, troughs and ditches and allow the turf to encroach in all it's glorious, un-manicured state.