Rehabilitation of foot and ankle injuries.

Rehabilitation of foot and ankle injuries is essential for full functional recovery and prevention of chronic disease. Rehabilitation includes the usage of physical therapy modalities and rehabilitative exercise whose goals are the reduction of pain and edema and the increase of strength and proprioception. Physical therapy modalities may be classified as thermal, mechanical or electrical agents and include the use of ice, heat, ultrasound, phonophoresis, iontophoresis, intermittent compression, therapeutic massage and a variety of electrical currents. Rehabilitative exercises are primarily designed to increase flexibility, range of motion, strength, proprioception and sport-specific development prior to resumption of full activity. Proper rehabilitation of the lateral ankle (inversion) sprain is critical due to its frequency and potential for chronic pain and recurrence.