A good pt will help you focus on a functional goal. For example, riding your bike without ankle pain, or walking down steps with sufficient ankle range of motion. They will ask you how home exercises are going and make you do it in front of them to correct your form. They will ask a lot of questions about your ankle history and show genuine concern for you.

Tell your therapist you’re there for stretching, strengthening, balance and proprioceptive exercises. No heat, no bicycle, no walking on a treadmill, no estim, no massage. I can’t say any of the prior treatments are “red flags,” because they do have limited applications. But beware!