Ankle Sprains and Ankle Instability
Ready to find out what's really behind your ankle sprain?
New patients welcome from Kennewick, Richland, Pasco, West Richland and across the Tri-Cities.
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A rolled ankle is one of the most common injuries there is, on the field, on the trail, or stepping off a curb. Many people tape it, rest it and move on, but a lot of sprains never fully recover. The ankle stays a little stiff, a little weak, and more likely to roll again. At ICE in Kennewick we help you recover properly so a single sprain doesn't become a long-term weak link.
What is an ankle sprain?
An ankle sprain is a stretch or tear of the ligaments that hold the ankle bones together. Most sprains are inversion sprains, where the foot rolls inward and the ligaments on the outside of the ankle are injured. Less common are high ankle sprains, which affect the ligaments between the two lower-leg bones and often take longer to recover.
Sprains are usually graded by severity:
Grade 1: stretched ligament, mild swelling, able to walk
Grade 2: partial tear, more swelling and bruising, painful to walk
Grade 3: complete tear, significant swelling, unstable ankle
Why ankle sprains keep coming back
After a sprain, the joints of the ankle and foot can stay stiff, and the muscles that protect the ankle often don't switch back on fully. Your proprioception, the sense of where your joint is in space, is also disrupted. Your brain doesn't fully trust the ankle, so it guards it, which changes how you walk and land. Without the right rehab, those changes can lead to chronic ankle instability and repeat sprains.
And because the ankle is the base of the leg, those compensations can travel up the chain. An old sprain can show up years later as knee, hip or back pain.
Common contributing factors
A previous sprain that was never fully rehabbed
Stiff ankle and foot joints, including the heel bone and the small joint at the top of the shin (fibula)
Weak calf, foot and hip muscles
Poor single-leg balance
Sports with cutting, jumping and landing, like soccer, basketball and volleyball, and uneven terrain like trails
Symptoms
Pain, swelling and bruising around the ankle after rolling it
Stiffness, especially when squatting or walking downhill
A feeling that the ankle is "loose" or might give way
Repeated sprains with minor missteps
How ICE treats ankle sprains
We check whether imaging is needed, then assess ankle and foot motion, ligament stability, strength, and single-leg balance, and look at how the knee and hip are compensating. After treatment we re-test so you can feel the difference.
Your plan may include:
Extremity adjustments to restore motion in the ankle, heel bone, midfoot and fibula once it's appropriate.
Low-level laser therapy to help manage swelling and support tissue healing.
Kinesiology taping to support the ankle and help with swelling.
Manual therapy for stiff tissue around the ankle and calf.
Corrective exercises: balance, proprioception and strength training that progresses toward the jumping, cutting and landing you need for your sport.
Watch: Chiropractic Ankle Adjustment
Treated by an extremity-certified chiropractor who teaches other doctors
Restoring a sprained ankle takes more than rest. It takes rebuilding how the joint moves and how the brain controls it. Your care at ICE is led by Dr. Kyle Bryant, DC, CCEP, the founder of Integrative Chiropractic and Extremities. Dr. Bryant is a Certified Chiropractic Extremity Practitioner (CCEP), an advanced credential awarded by the Council on Extremity Adjusting after 105 hours of advanced extremity training and a practical exam. He has 15+ years in practice, he teaches his extremity assessment approach to other chiropractors, and he has been invited onto several professional chiropractic podcasts to talk about extremity adjusting. A former collegiate, semi-pro and international soccer player, he knows first-hand what joint injuries do to the way an athlete moves.
He practices alongside Dr. Joseph Friedman, DC, who builds personalized plans around spinal and extremity adjustments and integrative therapies. Every patient gets extremity care as part of the evaluation, not as an add-on.
What to expect
Initial visits typically take 15–60 minutes, and in most cases treatment starts the same day. Follow-ups usually take 10–20 minutes. Mild sprains often feel better within a few weeks, but full strength and balance can take longer. We'll guide your return to running and sport step by step.
At-home care
In the first days, protect the ankle, elevate it, and use comfortable compression. Gentle movement within a pain-free range usually helps more than complete immobilization for mild to moderate sprains.
Start balance work as soon as it's comfortable, beginning with standing on one leg near a counter.
Don't skip the last phase of rehab. It's what helps prevent the next sprain.
Watch: Reduce your falls with this exercise
When to see a medical doctor
Get an X-ray or medical evaluation if you couldn't take four steps right after the injury, if there's tenderness directly on the ankle bones or the outer edge of the foot, if the ankle looks deformed, or if you have numbness, coldness or color change in the foot. These are signs of a possible fracture or more serious injury. If we suspect a fracture or a severe ligament tear, we'll refer you for imaging first.
Frequently asked questions
Should I ice and rest my sprained ankle?
In the first day or two, protecting and elevating the ankle can ease pain and swelling. After that, gentle movement and early balance work generally help recovery more than prolonged rest.
Can a chiropractor adjust a sprained ankle?
Yes, when it's appropriate. Extremity adjustments can help restore motion in the ankle and foot joints that often stay stiff after a sprain. We first make sure there's no fracture or severe instability.
Why do I keep spraining the same ankle?
Previous sprains often leave stiff joints, weaker stabilizing muscles and reduced balance. Without rehab that addresses all three, the ankle stays vulnerable.
When can I get back to sports?
When you can hop, cut and land on the injured side with confidence and similar strength and balance to the other side. We'll test those milestones with you.
Can an old ankle sprain cause knee or hip pain?
It can. A stiff or unstable ankle changes how your leg absorbs force, and the knee and hip often compensate. That's why we check the whole chain.
Get your ankle sprain evaluated in Kennewick
You don't have to keep guessing. Our doctors will look at the painful area and the joints above and below it, show you what they find, and walk you through a plan you can understand.
Integrative Chiropractic and Extremities (ICE Clinics) · 7117 W Hood Pl, Ste 130, Kennewick, WA 99336
Hours: Mon/Wed/Fri 9:00–12:30 & 3:30–6:00 · Tue/Thu 9:00–12:30 & 2:30–5:00
Paying for care: we are primarily self-pay, and we also accept Medicare, auto injury claims and L&I (Washington Labor & Industries) claims. No referral is needed. See what to expect as a new patient.
Book Your Visit Online Call (509) 820-3828
Related conditions
Achilles tendinitis · Knee pain & IT band · Sports injuries · Plantar fasciitis & heel pain
Back to all conditions we treat.
This page is general health information, not a diagnosis or a promise of results. Everyone responds differently. If you have severe, sudden or worsening symptoms, please contact your medical provider or call 911.