At-home exercises for 4 common musculoskeletal complaints
This pictorial review can help you advise patients on how to reduce pain and increase ROM, strength, and balance following acute injury or in chronic impairment.
PRACTICE RECOMMENDATIONS
❯ Have patients apply ice to an acute injury for 15 to 20 minutes at a time to help control inflammation, and prescribe an anti-inflammatory medication, if indicated. A
❯ Reserve heat application for use following the acute phase of injury to decrease stiffness. A
❯ Instruct patients who have an acute lateral ankle sprain to begin “ankle ABCs” and other range-of-motion exercises once acute pain subsides. C
❯ Consider recommending an eccentric heel stretch to help alleviate plantar fasciitis symptoms. C
Strength of recommendation (SOR)
A Good-quality patient-oriented evidence
B Inconsistent or limited-quality patient-oriented evidence
C Consensus, usual practice, opinion, disease-oriented evidence, case series
Graduated rehabilitation
The following 4 common MSK injuries are ones that can benefit from a graduated approach to rehabilitation at home.
Lateral ankle sprain
Lateral ankle sprain, usually resulting from an inversion mechanism, is the most common type of acute ankle sprain seen in primary care and sports medicine settings.7-9 The injury causes lateral ankle pain and swelling, decreased range of motion and strength, and pain with weight-bearing activities.
Treatment and rehabilitation after this type of injury are critical to restoring normal function and increasing the likelihood of returning to pre-injury levels of activity.9,10 Goals for an acute ankle sprain include controlling swelling, regaining full range of motion, increasing muscle strength and power, and improving balance.
Phase 1: Immediately following injury, have the patient protect the injured area with rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE). This will help to decrease swelling and pain. Exercises to regain range of motion, such as stretching and doing ankle “ABCs,” should begin within 48 to 72 hours of the initial injury (TABLE 1).9-11
Continue to: Phase 2
