Here’s how it works:
- Rest the ankle (use crutches if needed)
- Ice the ankle for 20 to 30 minutes every 2 to 3 hours for the first 2 days
- Compress (wrap) the ankle lightly -- not tightly -- with an elastic bandage or ankle brace
- For the first 48 hours, elevate (raise) the ankle higher than your heart whenever you're lying down
What is the normal recovery time for a sprained ankle?
What’s the best way to treat an ankle sprain?
- RICE The first step after an injury is to: rest reduce the swelling prevent further injury The American Academy of Orthopaeidic Surgeons (AAOS) recommends: R: rest the ankle ...
- Recovery In the first 2 weeks following an injury, Sandow says that there can be a quick decrease of pain and an improvement in your ankle’s movement and ...
- Rehabilitation
How long does it take for a sprained ankle to heal?
There is no specific time frame that sprained ankle recover. While we do know that the ligaments themselves will take at least six weeks to heal, your muscle strength, the range of motion, proprioception, and return to function can vary considerably. Here are some general guidelines.
How to heal a sprained ankle fast?
Treatment Tips for Your Sprained Ankle
- Anti-inflammatory medication. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may be most effective if you use them during the 48-hour window after you sprain your ankle.
- Ankle exercises and stretches after a sprain. Certain exercises can rehabilitate your ankle. ...
- Ankle anatomy. ...
- Taking care of your ankle long term. ...
What is the best treatment for an ankle sprain?
guidelines:
- Rest your ankle by not walking on it. Limit weight bearing and use crutches if necessary. ...
- Ice it to keep down the swelling. ...
- Compression can help control swelling as well as immobilize and support your injury.
- Elevate the foot by reclining and propping it up above the waist or heart as needed.
How long do sprained ankles take to heal?
How long does a sprained ankle take to heal? The recovery time for a sprained ankle varies depending on the severity of your injury. It may take anywhere from two weeks to heal a minor sprain and anywhere from six to 12 weeks to heal a severe sprain.
Can a sprained ankle heal in 3 days?
After 2 to 3 days protocol, a mild sprain will be mostly healed and ready for you to resume normal activity. A moderate or severe sprain may require you to keep up these treatment steps for longer—up to several weeks.
Is it OK to walk on a sprained ankle?
Do not walk on a sprained ankle. The inflamed tissue needs time to heal, and walking on it too soon may cause more damage. Ankle sprains are common musculoskeletal injuries that can occur from playing sports or from everyday activities.
How can I heal my ankle fast?
Tips to aid healingRest. Resting the ankle is key for healing, and wearing a brace can help stabilize the injured area. ... Ice. Using an ice pack may reduce blood flow to the injury and help ease pain and swelling. ... Compression. Compression helps stabilize the injured joint and may reduce swelling. ... Elevation.
How to heal a sprained ankle?
approach for the first two or three days: Rest. Avoid activities that cause pain, swelling or discomfort. Ice. Use an ice pack or ice slush bath immediately for 15 to 20 minutes and repeat every two to three hours while you're awake.
What is the best medicine for a sprained ankle?
In most cases, over-the-counter pain relievers — such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve, others) or acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) — are enough to manage the pain of a sprained ankle.
How to stop swelling in ankle?
To help stop swelling, compress the ankle with an elastic bandage until the swelling stops. Don't hinder circulation by wrapping too tightly. Begin wrapping at the end farthest from your heart. Elevation. To reduce swelling, elevate your ankle above the level of your heart, especially at night.
What to do if you have a sprain in your back?
Schedule an appointment or get emergency medical care for suspected sprains that don't respond to self-care strategies or that cause continued pain or instability. If your sprain is severe, you may be referred to a doctor who specializes in sports medicine or orthopedic surgery.
What to do if you sprained your ankle while exercising?
If you sprained your ankle while exercising or participating in a sport, talk to your doctor about when you can resume your activity. Your doctor or physical therapist may want you to perform particular activity and movement tests to determine how well your ankle functions for the sports you play.
How to restore ankle range of motion?
Therapy. Once the swelling and pain is lessened enough to resume movement, your doctor will ask you to begin a series of exercises to restore your ankle's range of motion, strength, flexibility and stability. Your doctor or a physical therapist will explain the appropriate method and progression of exercises.
What is the best test to rule out a broken ankle?
If the injury is severe, your doctor may recommend one or more of the following imaging scans to rule out a broken bone or to evaluate in more detail the extent of ligament damage: X-ray. During an X-ray, a small amount of radiation passes through your body to produce images of the bones of the ankle. This test is good for ruling out bone fractures.
Anatomy of an ankle sprain
The most common type of ankle sprain is an inversion injury, or lateral ankle sprain. The foot rolls inward, damaging the ligaments of the outer ankle — the anterior talofibular ligament, the calcaneofibular ligament, and the posterior talofibular ligament. (Ligaments are bands of fibrous tissue that connect bone to bone; see illustration.)
When to see your doctor
Unless your symptoms are mild or improving soon after the injury, contact your clinician. He or she may want to see you immediately if your pain and swelling are severe, or if the ankle feels numb or won't bear weight.
How to strengthen your ankle after a sprain
To recover from an ankle sprain fully, you'll need to restore the normal range of motion to your ankle joint and strengthen its ligaments and supporting muscles.
How to heal a sprained ankle?
To help your sprained ankle heal, you’ll need to ease the pain and bring down the swelling. Make an appointment right away for any ankle sprain, mild or severe. Your doctor will examine you and let you know if something more serious is wrong with your ankle.
What to do if your ankle is swollen and painful?
If your ankle is painful and swollen, remove ankle bracelets or toe rings right away. Then try the “RICE” method to ease your symptoms. RICE stands for “rest, ice, compress, and elevate.” Here’s how it works:
How to tell if you have a dislocated ankle?
Go to the emergency room if you have any of the following symptoms: Severe pain, bruising, or severe swelling. Bleeding, numbness, or change in color of the affected area. Your ankle looks deformed or seems dislocated. You can't put any weight on it.
Overview
A sprained ankle is a common injury when the tissue that connects your ankle bones and supports your ankle (ligaments) is torn or stretched beyond its limits, often after a fall, ankle roll or twist.
Diagnosis and Tests
Your healthcare provider will diagnose your sprained ankle after a physical examination of your foot and ankle to identify your range of motion and determine which ligaments are affected. The physical exam is typically followed by an imaging test, like an X-ray.
Management and Treatment
For the majority of ankle sprains, healthcare providers recommend using the PRICE method for the first 24-48 hours after injury. PRICE stands for protection, rest, ice, compression and elevation.
Living With
After treating your sprain with the PRICE method, you'll need to build back flexibility and strength in your ankle. Perform exercises recommended by your healthcare provider or physical therapist to improve your range of motion.
Frequently Asked Questions
The difference between a high ankle sprain and an ankle sprain depends on the location and ligaments that were injured. Ankle sprains are grouped into two location-based categories:
How long does it take to heal a sprained ankle?
Grade 1 sprained ankle recovery time is anywhere from 2 weeks to a month , normally closer to the two-week mark with proper treatment. A grade 1 sprained ankle can be treated almost entirely at home. The pain is fairly minor, if difficult to deal with. However, “home treatment” doesn’t mean “no treatment”.
How often do you sprain your ankle?
Orthopedists deal with sprained ankles just about every day. They’re the most common injury by a landslide and a sort of inevitability. Most people sprain their ankle at least once in life, and especially active people tend to do it a few times. However, each sprained ankle requires it’s own care and diagnosis.
How to tell if you have a grade 2 sprained ankle?
The most immediate sign of a grade 2 sprained ankle is bruising and swelling. When the sprain is received, the ankle should begin to swell almost immediately, and bruising should follow soon after. A grade 2 sprained ankle causes moderate pain, swelling of the joint, and some joint instability.
What does a grade 3 ankle sprain mean?
Finally, you might receive a grade 3 ankle sprain. If you do, you need to forget the idea of home treatment. A grade 3 sprained ankle could mean ligamentous rupture, which can cause permanent damage to the joint. Besides that, bruising and swelling will be extensive.
What is the least severe ankle sprain?
A grade 1 ankle sprain is the least severe and, accordingly, requires the least amount of time to recover. A grade 1 sprain occurs when there is only minor damage, and stretching of the ligaments. If you are suffering from a grade 1 sprain, you will feel only a little soreness.
Can you rest your ankle after a sprained ankle?
However, if you’ve done significant damage to the ankle, you could be resting it for a while. Here’s a breakdown of what sprained ankle recovery time looks like, and what you should expect if you sprain your ankle.
Can you treat a grade 2 ankle tear?
A grade 2 sprained ankle should not be treated at home unless you or someone who can care for you is a medical professional. Grade 2 sprained ankles often involve a partial tear in ligaments. Several things, such as too much pressure or even a minor second injury, can severely compound the ligament tear.
How long does it take for a sprained ankle to heal?
Patients usually reach a maximum benefit at 6 to12 weeks. Any patient who exhibits recurrent sprains, ankle rolling or other instability after that time or has associated injuries such as swelling, locking or catching may be a candidate for surgery.
What are the two types of ankle sprains?
Types of Ankle Sprains. There are two different basic classifications of ankle sprains: Anatomic (the level severity of damage to tissues in the ankle) and functional (the level an injury affects a patient’s ability to walk or put weight on the ankle).
What is a grade 1 ankle sprain?
Grade I ankle sprain – lateral ligaments are strained (overstretched) Grade II ankle sprain – partial tearing of one or several of these ligaments. Grade III ankle sprain – complete rupture (tear) one or more of the lateral ligaments.
How to reduce swelling in the immediate post-injury period?
This can be accomplished by a compressive wrap, icing for 20 minutes at least twice a day and wearing a CAM walker boot or ankle brace to provide protected weightbearing.
What does it mean when your ankles roll over?
What this means is that the muscles that protect the ankle from rolling over may not protect patients as well when they are walking on uneven ground.
How long does it take to recover from a grade II injury?
These grading systems can also predict timelines for recovery, which range from 1 to 2 weeks (Grade I) to 6 to 8 weeks (Grade III).
Can a sprain in the ankle cause a sprain in the ankle?
It is not clear how many cases of chronic ankle sprain result from a single, initial ankle sprain. However, many doctors report that damage to the nerve receptors around the ankle and the weakening of the lateral (outside) ankle ligaments are likely to cause additional ankle sprains.
How to help a sprained ankle?
Wear the right shoes for an activity. Choose stable shoes that support your ankle, such as high-top basketball shoes. If you play a sport, you might want to tape up a weak ankle for extra support. Ask your doctor about a brace if you’ve had more than one sprain.
How to keep ankles from spraining?
They might give you a brace or cast to hold your ankle still. You can use crutches to keep weight off it. If you have a severe sprain, have a follow-up appointment 1 or 2 weeks later to make sure you’re healing well and learn whether you might need physical therapy to help with flexibility and strength.
What grade is ankle ligament torn?
Your ligaments are stretched but not torn. Your ankle still feels stable. You may have some pain and stiffness. Moderate (grade II). One or more ligaments are partially torn. The joint isn’t totally stable, and you can’t move it as much as usual. You have swelling and moderate pain. Severe (grade III).
What are the risk factors for a sprained ankle?
Certain people are more likely to sprain their ankles. Women, children, and teenagers tend to have more sprains. You might also be at higher risk if you: Play sports, especially on an indoor court. Have balance problems.
How long does it take for an ankle to feel better?
Your ankle doesn’t feel better within 5 to 7 days. You might have a bone fracture instead of a sprain if: You have severe pain or pain that doesn’t get better with treatment. Your foot or ankle is twisted or extremely swollen. You can’t walk without pain.
How to stop a swollen ankle from hurting?
Rest keeps you from hurting the ankle again or putting stress on inflamed tissue. A brace or splint can take pressure off the joint. Ice is probably the best treatment. Put it on your ankle to lower blood flow and help with swelling, redness, and warmth.
Why does my foot feel weak after a sprain?
It’s often worse when you press on it, move your foot in certain ways, walk, or stand. Redness and warmth. A sprain causes more blood to flow to the area. Instability. The joint can feel weak when the ligament is totally torn.
What is the treatment for ankle sprains?
Treatment Options for Ankle Sprains. At the Centeno-Schultz Clinic, treatment options for ankle injuries include PRP and stem cells. PRP is rich in growth factors that can improve blood flow and accelerated healing.
What is ankle sprain?
What Is an Ankle Sprain? An ankle sprain is one of the most common musculoskeletal injuries. The incidence is 2.15 per 1000 person-years in the United States (1). There is a higher incidence of ankle sprains in females compared to males, children compared to adolescents, and adolescents compared to adults ...
Why do we use ultrasound for ankle injuries?
At the Centeno-Schultz Clinic, ultrasound is used in the evaluation of all ankle injuries. A stress ultrasound is an important tool in assessing the health of a ligament. How long a sprained ankle stays swollen is dependent upon the severity of the injury. Persistent swelling is a warning sign that there is an underlying problem.
What is the most common ligament injury in the ankle?
The most common ankle sprain involves the ligaments on the outside of the ankle (3). The outside of the ankle is also referred to as lateral. Said another way, lateral ankle ligament injuries are the most common. There are three principal ligaments on the outside of the ankle. ATF: Anterior Talo-Fibular Ligament.
Why does my ankle swell after a sprain?
Most likely your continued ankle swelling is due to joint instability.
What are the symptoms of a grade 3 ankle sprain?
Symptoms include marked swelling, bruising, and tenderness. There is severe loss of function with most patient’s being unable to bear weight. The ankle joint in a Grade 3 sprain is misaligned and unstable.
What is the best treatment for ankle fractures?
A physician trained in Interventional Orthopedics is best suited to provide you with nonsurgical treatment options. X-ray of the foot/ankle is important to rule out fractures. The integrity of the ankle ligaments can be evaluated using different physical examination tests.
