For a Grade 2 (moderate) sprain, follow the R.I.C.E. guidelines and allow more time for healing. A doctor may immobilize or splint your sprained ankle. A Grade 3 (severe) sprain puts you at risk for permanent ankle looseness (instability). On rare occasions, surgery may be needed to repair the damage, especially in competitive athletes.
What is the Grade 2 sprained ankle recovery time?
There is also more swelling and pain present in a grade 2 ankle sprain than a grade 1 sprain. Walking is usually the first week more difficult, but then the symptoms will slowly disappear. The recovery time of a grade 2 ankle sprain is usually 2-4 weeks.
What does sprained ankle Grade 2 mean?
What is a Grade 2 Ankle Sprain? Grade 2 ankle sprains occur when the ligaments in the ankle become stretched or torn. In this type of ankle sprain, there is usually some pain in the ankle or foot but the joint is not unstable. Grade 2 sprains usually take about two to three weeks to recover from.
How to reduce recovery time for a sprained ankle?
found that immobilizing a sprained ankle with a brace for up to 10 days may help decrease swelling and pain. They also discovered that completely immobilizing an injury for more than four weeks may actually worsen symptoms and affect recovery negatively. Start with gentle strengthening exercises.
How long does take for a sprained ankle to heal?
- Moderate to severe damage to the ligament
- Some slight instability but ankle function is intact
- Can take between three to four weeks to heal
How long does it take for a grade 2 sprained ankle to heal?
Grade 2 ankle sprains involve greater injury to the ligament and can take up 4-6 weeks to allow full return to sport. Grade 3 injuries are more severe in nature and often involve full tearing of the ligament and possible bone fracture. The length of time to recover from grade 3 ankle sprains could be 3 months or more.
What is the fastest way to heal a grade 2 ankle sprain?
TreatmentRest. 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. ... Compression. To help stop swelling, compress the ankle with an elastic bandage until the swelling stops. ... Elevation.
Can you walk on a grade 2 ankle sprain?
The ankle feels stable and it is usually possible to walk with minimal pain. Grade 2: A more severe sprain, but incomplete tear with moderate pain, swelling and bruising. Although it feels somewhat stable, the damaged areas are tender to the touch and walking is painful.
Is grade 2 sprained ankle serious?
A Grade 2 sprain is considered to be moderate and is characterized by some, but not all, of the ligament fibers being torn. The affected ankle and foot are often painful and moderately bruised or swollen, but the stability of the ankle joint is generally not affected.
Should I wrap a sprained ankle overnight?
Compression -- Wrapping a stretchable elastic bandage around your foot and ankle can help minimize swelling after injury. If you're going to wrap your ankle, it is best to put the bandage on first thing in the morning, and then take it off at bedtime.
Does a Grade 2 ankle sprain need surgery?
A grade 2 sprained ankle will result in significant swelling and bruising. It is possible, though not as likely, to need surgery for a grade 2 sprain, depending on the severity of the sprain. It can take well over a month to fully heal from a grade 2 sprain.
How long should I stay off a sprained ankle?
Depending on the severity of the injury, she advises patients to avoid any impact on the injured ankle, including running and other athletic pursuits, for four-to-six weeks before gradually working up to previous levels.
When should you start walking on a grade 2 sprained ankle?
A grade 1 sprain causes little damage to the ligaments, and although the ankle will be tender for a few days, you can walk on it after a short period of rest. At grade 2 sprain, there is some tearing of the tissues and a longer recovery time of up to 4 weeks.
Do you need crutches for a Grade 2 ankle sprain?
You may need to use crutches until you can walk without pain. If you do use crutches, try to bear some weight on your injured ankle if you can do so without pain. This helps the ankle heal. Take pain medicines exactly as directed.
Should I wear an ankle brace to bed?
Unless and until your healthcare provider recommends that explicitly, do not wear ankle braces while going to sleep. How tight should the ankle brace be? The ankle brace should be a snug fit for you. It shouldn't be so tight as to make you uncomfortable or so loose that it loses its purpose.
What helps ligaments heal faster?
Balance, control, and strengthening exercises can also help your ligaments heal more quickly than they otherwise would.
Can walking on a sprained ankle make it worse?
Yes. That's the very short answer. According to the National Association of Athletic Trainers, ankle injuries, including sprains, are very often undertreated. Ignoring treatment, including excessive movement of the ankle through unnecessary walking, leads to a greater risk of worsening the injury.
What is the treatment for a Grade 2 ankle sprain?
Successful treatment of a Grade 2 ankle sprain involves rest, limited handling of the injury, and rehabilitation. We hope this article has been helpful in answering your questions about your ankle sprain and helps you have a speedy recovery!
How to treat a sprained ankle?
An ankle sprain is a common sports injury that can sideline you for a period of time if not properly treated. There are several key steps to treat an ankle sprain. Commonly referred to as the RICE protocol: 1 Rest 2 Ice to reduce swelling 3 Elevation 4 Compression bandage to limit swelling in the joint
Why does my ankle sprain make a popping sound?
This is because the ligaments have stretched and the bone has been displaced. The good news is that this means the ligaments will rebuild and strengthen with rest and treatment.
How long does it take to recover from a grade 2 ankle sprain?
Grade 2 ankle sprains involve greater injury to the ligament and can take up 4-6 weeks to allow full return to sport. Once recovered from a level 2 ankle sprain a person who should be able to return to playing sports such as basketball, volleyball, soccer and running at roughly the same level as before.
What sports can you play after a level 2 ankle sprain?
Once recovered from a level 2 ankle sprain a person who should be able to return to playing sports such as basketball, volleyball, soccer and running at roughly the same level as before.
What is the protocol for a sprained ankle?
There are several key steps to treat an ankle sprain. Commonly referred to as the RICE protocol: Compression bandage to limit swelling in the joint.
How to reduce swelling in ankle?
Compression bandage to limit swelling in the joint. The University of Michigan Medicine website advises: As soon as possible after an injury, such as a knee or ankle sprain, you can relieve pain and swelling and promote healing and flexibility with RICE—Rest, Ice , Compression, and Elevation.
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 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.
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.
What is the treatment for a grade 3 sprain?
Grade 3 sprains and strains are usually unstable and require longer healing. The following treatment protocol may be used: Casting. In addition to rest and elevation, the first phase of healing usually involves casting or bracing of the foot, ankle, and lower leg. A traditional plaster cast may be used, or a commercial air cast.
How to treat a sprained ankle?
Surgery. In severe and/or chronic sprains and strains that do not respond to first-line treatment or rehabilitation, one or more types of surgery may be required: 1 Surgery may be arthroscopic, in which the surgeon looks inside the ankle joint with a special camera to determine if any loose bone fragments may be interfering with the healing process. Arthroscopy can also be used to determine if a portion of the injured ligament, muscle, or tendon has become caught within the joint capsule. 2 Surgery may be reconstructive, in which the surgeon repairs torn ligaments, muscles, or tendons with stitches or other types of sutures. The surgeon may also transplant tissue from other parts of the patient's foot and ankle to aid in the reconstruction. 3 Orthopedic surgeons generally perform ankle surgery. Orthopedic surgeons may also be fellowship trained in the exclusive practice of foot and ankle surgery.
How long does it take to recover from ankle surgery?
Patients who require surgery to treat their ankle sprains and strains will require additional recovery time and physical therapy, which can range from weeks to months.
What is the RICE protocol for ankle sprains?
Grade 1 and 2 ankle sprains and strains. For Grade 1 and Grade 2 sprains, most doctors recommend the RICE protocol, which stands for R est, I ce, C ompression, and E levation: Rest. Patients are advised to not walk or stand on the sprained or strained ankle until healing is complete. The rest period can range from a day or two for Grade 1 sprains ...
What is the best exercise for a grade 3 sprain?
Isometric strengthening exercises that promote proprioception (body/joint position awareness) are especially important in Grade 3 sprains and strains to help reduce the chance of re-injury. Therapeutic exercises may be land-based or water-based, with water-based exercises usually reserved for those with severe injury.
Does Tylenol help with ankle pain?
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) can also provide pain relief. 1. The combination of rest, compression, and pain relief can help support the body's natural healing process, and prevent further aggravation of the ankle injury. advertisement.
How to treat a swollen shin?
Ice. Applying cloth-wrapped ice packs to the injury site as soon as possible after the injury occurs is strongly recommended. The ice helps reduce swelling and pain. Ice packs may be applied for 20 to 30 minutes at a time , three to four times daily.
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.
Abstract
Lateral ankle sprain the most common injury in physically active populations. Individuals who sustain an acute lateral ankle sprain may not receive timely formal rehabilitation and are at an increased risk to have subsequent sprains which can lead to chronic pain and instability.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Lateral ankle sprains (LAS) are one of the most common injuries sustained during sport and exercise among active teenagers and young adults. 1, 2 Most patients with LAS do not receive supervised rehabilitation and the majority of costs associated with LAS come from physician evaluations.
CASE DESCRIPTIONS
The Brooke Army Medical Center Institutional Review Board in Fort Sam Houston, TX reviewed the protocol for this study and informed consent was obtained from the participants prior to data collection.
OUTCOMES
Patients started treatment an average of 2.3 days following injury (range 1-5 days) with an average of eight clinical visits over 6-9 weeks. All patients completed the entirety of treatment and follow up evaluations.
DISCUSSION
These outcomes suggest that a comprehensive clinical strategy for patients with acute primary grade II lateral ankle sprains with an emphasis on requirements for ligament protection while maintaining range of motion and timing appropriate return to function with patient tailored treatment and activity is promising and merits further study.
CONCLUSION
The results of this prospective case series suggest that a treatment approach designed to protect the injured ligament, maintain and restore normal ankle motion, and provide a tailored functional pathway to return to run and sport demonstrated resolution of symptoms and improvement in reported functional outcomes in a group of patients following grade II acute primary ankle sprains..
REFERENCES
1. Gribble PA Bleakley CM Caulfield BM et al. 2016 consensus statement of the International Ankle Consortium: prevalence, impact and long-term consequences of lateral ankle sprains. Br J Sports Med. 2016;50(24):1493-1495. [ PubMed] [ Google Scholar]
How to fix a sprained ankle?
Sprained ankle exercise 1: Restore the stability of your ankle. The first exercise we are going to perform is designed to increase the stability of your ankle. When you train the control of your ankle, you will put a load on the damaged tissue. Your body needs this load to repair the ligament correctly.
How long does it take to recover from a grade 3 ankle sprain?
The recovery time of a grade 3 ankle sprain is usually 4-6 weeks. When you have twisted your ankle even worse, this can cause a fracture in your ankle. A fracture happens when not only your ligament tears, but your ligament also pulls off a piece of the bone. It is called an avulsion fracture.
What is eversion in a sprained ankle?
Eversion is the movement where you bend your foot outwards. These bones are held together by various ligaments. The ligaments are the structures that become damaged when you have a sprained ankle. The amount of damage defines if you have a grade 1,2, or 3 ankle sprain.
What are the movements of the ankle joint?
Movements of the ankle. Since the ankle joint is a combination of 2 joints, movement is possible in many directions. The movements performed by your Talocrural Joint are dorsiflexion and plantarflexion. When performing dorsiflexion of your foot, you lift your foot towards your lower leg.
What is the joint called when you sprained your ankle?
Your ankle is a combination of two joints. Your Tibia, Fibula, and Talus together form the essential joint of your ankle. This joint is called the Talocrural Joint.
How many grades of ankle sprains are there?
There are three grades of ankle sprains which I will discuss here. Basically, the higher the grade, the more severe your pain and symptoms are, and the longer the recovery time is. I’ll show you the different symptoms of all three ankle sprain grades as well as the recovery time for each of them.
How long after a sprained ankle can you walk?
The second exercise is intended to increase the power of your foot and lower leg. Usually, after you’ve sprained your ankle, you do not walk much for a few days.
What is the best treatment for ankle sprain?
Effective physiotherapy is a vital part of ankle sprain treatment with severe sprains. As well as an exercise programme, your physiotherapist may also do some manual therapy to reduce any stiffness in the joints of the foot.
What is the first aid for a sprained ankle?
Sprained ankle first aid starts with protecting the ankle from further injury. It may be a bandage or support around the ankle or in severe cases, a plaster cast may be applied to limit all ankle movement.
Why is my ankle sore?
Elevation. Swelling is a common problem with ankle sprains and is one of the reasons the ankle stays painful and stiff for so long. Keeping the foot elevated higher than the level of your heart when resting will help to reduce swelling.
How long does it take to heal from a sprain ankle?
Recovery time after an ankle sprain will depend on the grade of injury: Grade 1 Ankle Sprains: where just a few ligament fibres have been damaged, will usually settle down in 2-6 weeks with simple home treatment. Grade 2 Ankle Sprains: Usually take 4-6 weeks for the pain and swelling to settle but it may take up to 3 months to fully rehab ...
What to do if ankle sprain is unstable?
If there is instability around the ankle, you may need to wear a brace or ankle support as part of your ankle sprain treatment to prevent further injury. In severe cases, you may be given a cast or walking boot to immobilise the joint temporarily while the ligament heals.
What is ankle sprain?
A sprain is where one of the ligaments around the ankle is overstretched, often resulting in damage and tearing of the fibres. They usually result in pain, swelling and bruising around the foot and in severe cases there may be difficulty walking and instability. There are three grades of ankle sprain: grade 1 (minor damage), ...
Why do lateral ligaments sprains recur?
This is most commonly due to persistent weakness around the ankle, stiffness in the joint and reduced proprioception. Ankle sprain treatment needs to be carried out effectively and completely to avoid these and prevent recurrence.
Can you walk with a grade I sprain?
You may walk on a grade I sprain, but you may want to consider a walking boot or at least a supportive shoe to assist keep the ankle from rolling. Grade II sprains are somewhere in the middle, and while you may be able to walk on them, you may be risking more ligament tears.
What grade of ankle sprain do I have?
Ligament stretching or minor tearing with moderate discomfort, edema, and stiffness The ankle feels stable, and walking with minimum pain is typically doable. Grade 2: A more severe sprain with substantial discomfort, edema, and bruising, but an incomplete rupture.
What should the grade be for a sprained ankle?
Your doctor will most likely assign your sprain one of three "grades" based on the extent of the damage: Grade 1: Your ankle will most likely be swollen and uncomfortable. The ligament has been overstretched but not torn in this example. You may experience some pain with weight-bearing, such as standing or walking.
What does a grade 2 sprain look like?
A more severe sprain with substantial discomfort, edema, and bruising, but an incomplete rupture. Although it appears to be sturdy, the injured sections are sore to the touch, and walking is difficult. Grade 3: A complete tear of the afflicted ligament (s) with substantial edema and bruising. The ankle cannot be reduced into complete position.
What is the grade system for ankle sprains?
The traditional grading system for ankle sprains helps to determine the severity of the injury, guide treatment and establish prognosis. This system provides general guidelines; however, variations within this framework do occur.
What is a grade 3 ankle injury?
Grade III ankle injuries involve complete ruptures of one or more of the ankle ligaments. These injuries create significant pain, swelling and bruising. Often, a golf ball sized lump of swelling will be present at the painful area. Most patients with a Grade III sprain are unable to bear weight on the injured ankle.
What is the most common type of ankle sprain?
When the foot rolls inward and the ankle moves outward, an inversion sprain occurs. This is the most common type of ankle sprain . During an inversion ankle sprain, the ligaments on the outside of the ankle are overstretched and can even tear. The traditional grading system for ankle sprains helps to determine the severity of the injury, ...
What is the least severe ankle sprain?
A Grade I ankle sprain is the least severe. This is a stretching of one or more of the ligaments which results in mild pain and tenderness. Usually, the patient can bear weight and has only mild stiffness in the ankle joint. With a Grade I injury, treatment includes the classic RIICE: Rest, Ice, Immobilization, Compression and Elevation.
Can you bear weight on a Grade III ankle sprain?
Most patients with a Grade III sprain are unable to bear weight on the injured ankle. Treatment of these injuries often begins with immobilization in a non-weightbearing cast or pneumatic boot with crutches.
