CONDITION
Dealing with chronic left ankle pain after a severe sprain, causing sharp pain with landing and affecting his performance as a professional badminton player pursuing a top 50 world ranking.
18
Male
6 mth
| CHALLENGES | ROOT CAUSES |
|---|---|
| Landing on the left ankle | Pain with left-sided landing and force absorption |
| Quick cutting movements | Hyperpronated left foot (flat feet) |
| Long badminton matches | Decreased dorsiflexion |
| Tournament performance decline | Poor foot loading mechanics |
PREVIOUS TREATMENTS
Self-rehab through YouTube videos with no long-term improvement
GOALS
Be able to compete and play badminton pain free while continuing his push toward the top 50 world rankings by the end of 2026
TREATMENT PHASES
1
Pain Relief & Early Management
- Retrain intrinsic foot musculature
- Low intensity landing patterns without symptom aggravation
2
Restore Movement & Function
- Isometric holds and eccentric lower leg strengthening
- Triple extension training
- Lateral plyometrics
3
Load, Performance & Strength
- Lateral strength training
- Deceleration training
- Intensive plyometrics
- Multidirectional low intensity plyometrics
- Anaerobic conditioning
- Movement retraining
Treatment Obstacles & Adjustments
- Patient was constantly traveling and competing internationally to improve his world ranking points. Program was adjusted around tournaments and travel demands to keep him fresh while continuing rehab and performance training.
Measurable wins
- Pain significantly decreased within 2 sessions
- Able to hop, cut, and skip on the injured ankle for the first time in 6 months
- Pain fully resolved within 2 months and treatment completed at 3 months
Outcome
- He competed in a tournament in Brazil completely pain free and was able to perform confidently without ankle limitations.
Ankle Results
Client Feedback
“Dr. Alex’s method literally gave me a new life. I am able to bend at the waist, have fun with my son doing activities running around, even sleeping through the night. I can work a lot more comfortably and even sit longer periods of time with much less pain.”
Dr. Alex Mak, DC, CCSP, CSCS, QME
Your FREE First Visit
60minYour first step is a low-pressure visit to understand your body mechanics, what will resolve it, and explain our approach.
- Quick intake: what’s hurting, what triggers it, training goals
- Movement: mobility, strength, control, and sport-specific patterns
- Clear plan: observations, why it’s happening, best path forward
What You’ll Receive
- A clear clinical direction and root-cause hypothesis
- Recommended next steps, including a plan and projected timeline
- Practical guidance on what to do, and what to avoid, in training right now
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