Ankle sprains can be hard to effectively treat at all ages, but they can be even more difficult to treat when the develop in teen populations. Although this group has youth on their side, ankle sprains in teenagers can lead to additional issues if you’re not careful. In today’s blog, we explore why it can be a little harder for teens to overcome an ankle sprain, and how you can help your child treat these pesky ankle sprains.
Tricky Teen Ankle Sprains
No matter the age, ankle sprains that are not treated correctly can linger or lead to more serious issues like chronic ankle stability. Rest is typically not enough to restore injured ankle ligaments, you need to proactively treat the injury so that the ligaments can get back to a pre-injury level of strength and function. Getting a teenager to commit to this type of treatment plan can be difficult for many reasons.
Inherently Active – Teenagers, especially those who play sports, are inherently active. Even if they sit out of practice for a couple of days, odds are they are going to be stressing their ankle walking to class or throughout their normal day, and this constant stress at a time when the ligaments are weakened can lead to prolonged tissue damage or delayed healing.
Peer Pressure – Athletes may feel like they are letting their team down if they miss time from practice, which can cause them to return to strenuous activity before they should. Returning to athletics or exercise too soon after an ankle injury can increase their risk of re-injury.
They’re Know It Alls – Anyone who has parented a teenager has run into a situation where their child believes they know best. You may urge them to pursue their PT exercises or stay off their ankle for a bit, but if they don’t see the value in their rehab program or think they know more than the doctor, they may not adhere to their recovery plan, and that can lead to delayed healing. Explain why it’s so important that they work to put this injury completely behind them.
They’re Invincible – Because they have youth on their side, many teenagers assume their body will eventually just overcome whatever basic injuries they suffer. If their body can mend a broken bone, it can surely heal some overstretched ligaments, right? The problem is that these ligaments will remain weakened without targeted treatment, increasing their risk of a recurrence or chronic ankle instability. Let them know that they are going to need to put in a little work on their end if they want to experience the best recovery, because their body can’t do it on its own.
Inexperience – Finally, many teenagers haven’t really had enough life experience to understand how their actions during their recovery period can affect their ankles in the long-term. They may have never really experienced a major ankle injury, and their unfamiliarity can cause them to pursue ineffective treatments. Help be a guide and a resource for your teen who is working their way through an ankle sprain, and you’ll be helping keep their recovery on track.
Of course, if you want to bring in a professional who can help your child overcome their specific ankle injury, reach out to Dr. Silverman by filling out this contact form.