Ligament Sprain Rehabilitation and Healing

All information is sourced from Dr. Vizniak's Orthopedic Assessment Textbook. Always visit your local health care professional for a detailed assessment of your injury or pain to get an accurate diagnosis and treatment strategy.

Ligaments are made of dense collagenous fibre bundles that function to stabilize joints. It connects and holds bones to other bones in our body. Ligament sprains occur a joint is force beyond its normal range of motion causing the surrounding ligaments to "stretch" or tear. Ligament sprains generally take longer to heal compared to muscle strains as a result of having a lower blood supply to them.

Key Principles for Ligament Sprain Healing:

Phase 1: ACUTE PHASE (~1-5 days)
-PRICE (Pressure, Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation)
-Short term immobilization of the affected joint
-Avoid activities that make the pain worse and practice pain control

Phase 2: POST-ACUTE PHASE (~2 days to 6 weeks)
-Begin pain-free range of motion as soon as possible but also within tolerance
-Switch to heat to improve blood flow to the ligament
-Begin hands on treatment with a trusted health care provider (soft tissue therapy, mobilization, manipulation) to decrease pain, improve range of motion and reduce the risk of contracture
-Consider electrotherapy
-If instability of the joint is suspected, consider prolotherapy to shorten ligaments

Phase 3: REMODELLING PHASE (1 week to 12+ months)
-Work toward function recovery and proprioception improvement (an understanding of where your body is in space to decrease risk of re-injury)
-Warm up properly before physical activity
-Address technique issues or biomechanical imbalances that may have contributed to the injury in the first place
-SLOWLY transition from simple isometric activities to eccentric activities, as tolerated, then to activity specific exercises
-Surgical consultation is warranted with failure to respond to conservative care and/or with severe joint instability

Have a ligamentous sprain that's holding you back from doing what you love? Visit us at Nurture Family Chiropractic to help get you back on track.