CASE STUDY \u00b7 ANKLE
The sprain that never healed, and what the scan really showed.
An ankle still reactive seven months after a sprain, and a knee that was only compensating. The assessment reframed the whole problem.
Hector M., Old Streetonians RFC
Where They Started
Hector is an active runner and plays rugby for Old Streetonians RFC, the club Achilles partners with as its official soft tissue and recovery partner. He came in with a left ankle that had been reactive for around seven months after a sprain, still not right, with playing rugby the day after a run leaving the leg badly tense. He also had right knee pain from a poor landing.
The Assessment
On assessment the left ankle was clearly the primary problem: reduced ankle bend compared to the other side, tenderness over the outer ligament, and a weaker, less stable calf on that side. The right knee was a compensation, not a separate injury, the joint itself was clean. The bigger reveal came from reading the imaging properly: this was not a simple outer ligament sprain. It was a combined injury, outer and inner ankle, with the inner arch supporting structures involved, which had been under-called. That changes the whole plan. Treat only the outer ligament and it keeps coming back.
Tension Release
We treated it as a combined ankle: hands-on release and mobilisation to restore the ankle bend, on both sides of the joint, not just the outer ligament.
Strength Rebuild
Then a rebuild that covered both sides: balance and proprioception for the outer ligament, arch and inner ankle strengthening, and calf capacity so the Achilles, which is intact, stays that way. Impact and running were rebuilt gradually and deliberately, because stacking runs with rugby was a big part of what kept it lit up. This ran through The Cornerstone, our fullest rehabilitation course.
Where They Are Now
Significant results from The Cornerstone course. Hector is maintaining his treatment to hold the gains, keep the ankle stable, and manage the running and rugby load so the old pattern does not return.
What Is Next
Ongoing maintenance and load management across his running and rugby, protecting the ankle and the calf, keeping the compensating knee quiet.
“I injured my ankle playing sport a few months ago and was still having stability and flexibility issues. Alexander did a very thorough assessment, getting to the root of the problem and building plan for going forwards. Highly recommend!”
Hector M., five star Google review
