- 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. ...
- Compression. To help stop swelling, compress the ankle with an elastic bandage until the swelling stops. ...
- Elevation.
Which of the following is the best treatment for a sprained ankle?
Ice is probably the best treatment. Put it on your ankle to lower blood flow and help with swelling, redness, and warmth. It can prevent inflammation if you do it quickly after an injury. Compression can keep down swelling.Feb 25, 2022
Can walking on a sprained ankle make it better?
How long should it take for a sprained ankle to heal?
How should you sleep with a sprained ankle?
What is the difference between a sprained ankle and a twisted ankle?
How do I know if my ankle sprain is serious?
Can a sprained ankle heal in 2 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.
What do you wrap a sprained ankle with?
What is a sprained ankle?
A sprained ankle occurs when the ligaments are forced beyond their normal range of motion. Most sprained ankles involve injuries to the ligaments on the outer side of the ankle. Treatment for a sprained ankle depends on the severity of the injury.
When does a sprained ankle occur?
December 21, 2020. A sprained ankle is an injury that occurs when you roll, twist or turn your ankle in an awkward way, stretching or tearing the tough bands of tissue, or ligaments, that help hold your ankle bones together.
What side of the ankle is sprained?
Most sprained ankles involve injuries to the ligaments on the outer side of the ankle. Treatment for a sprained ankle depends on the severity of the injury.
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 get rid of swollen ankles?
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.
What is the best treatment for a sprained ankle?
Physical therapy may especially benefit anyone who experiences long-term pain following a serious sprain and anyone with a history of similar injuries. A physical therapist will perform an exam of the person’s ankle to identify weak muscles and other issues that can cause pain and increase the risk of injury.
How to heal ankle sprain?
As the swelling goes down, walking can promote healing. Start by walking short distances within the house.
What is a sprained ankle?
When to see a doctor. Summary. A sprained ankle is an injury to one or more ligaments in the ankle. Mild sprains may involve overstretching and irritating the ligaments, while severe sprains can cause the ligaments to tear completely. Ankle sprains are common injuries, particularly among people who play sports.
Can a sprain cause a tear in the ankle?
Mild sprains may involve overstretching and irritating the ligaments, while severe sprains can cause the ligaments to tear completely . Ankle sprains are common injuries, particularly among people who play sports. They can be very painful, and severe sprains can require months of recovery.
How long does it take for an ankle sprain to heal?
Ankle sprains are common injuries, particularly among people who play sports. They can be very painful, and severe sprains can require months of recovery. However, a person can do several things at home to help speed their healing and reduce the risk of reinjury. Below, find out what to do after spraining an ankle.
How to stop swelling in ankle?
If possible, wear a temporary brace or bandage to support the joint and prevent it from moving.
Can you see a doctor for an ankle sprain?
It is difficult to diagnose an ankle sprain based on symptoms alone. For this reason, a person should see a doctor. Most family physicians and doctors at urgent care clinics can quickly diagnose a sprained ankle. If the injury is very serious, they may refer the person to an orthopedist or foot and ankle surgeon.
Do ankle sprains require surgery?
Most an kle sprains do not require surgery, and minor sprains are best treated with a rehabilitation program similar to your sporting activities. Depending on how many ligaments are injured, your sprain will be classified as Grade 1 (mild), 2 (moderate), or 3 (severe).
What is a sprained ankle?
A sprained ankle is an injury or tear of one or more ligaments on the outer side of your ankle . If a sprain is not treated properly, you could have long-term problems. A sprain can be difficult to differentiate from a broken bone without an X-ray.
Can a sprained ankle hurt too much?
But the sprain could be more severe; your ankle might swell and it might hurt too much to stand on it. If it's a severe sprain, you might have felt a "pop" when the injury happened. A sprained ankle is an injury or tear of one ...
What happens if you don't treat a sprain?
If a sprain is not treated properly, you could have long-term problems. A sprain can be difficult to differentiate from a broken bone without an X-ray. If you are unable to put weight on your foot after this type of injury, or if there is significant swelling, bruising, or deformity, you should seek medical treatment from a doctor (MD or DO). ...
How to treat a grade 1 sprain?
For a Grade 1 (mild) sprain, follow the R.I.C.E. guidelines: Rest your ankle by not walking on it. Limit weight bearing and use crutches if necessary. If there is no broken bone you are safe to put some weight on the leg. An ankle brace often helps control swelling and adds stability while the ligaments are healing.
How to keep ankles from swelling?
Rest your ankle by not walking on it. Limit weight bearing and use crutches if necessary. If there is no broken bone you are safe to put some weight on the leg. An ankle brace often helps control swelling and adds stability while the ligaments are healing. Ice it to keep down the swelling.
How long does it take for swelling to go down after a sprain?
Swelling usually goes down in a few days. 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).
How to rehabilitate ankle?
Certain exercises can rehabilitate your ankle. Your doctor or physical therapist may recommend a series of movements designed to restore strength to the area so you avoid future sprains. Balance and stability training, as well as stretches designed to improve flexibility and range of motion, are especially helpful.
How to keep ankle from swelling?
Compression. Compression helps decrease swelling and provides stability to your ankle by immobilizing it. You should apply a compression bandage as soon as a sprain occurs . Wrap your ankle with an elastic bandage, such as an ACE bandage, and leave it on for 48 to 72 hours. Wrap the bandage snugly, but not tightly.
Is icing a sprain based on research?
NATA’s position statement also noted that the conventional wisdom about icing sprains isn’t based on much solid research. On the flipside, research reported in a 2012 issue of the Journal of Athletic Training didn’t find enough data to say icing a sprain has zero affect.
What is it called when your ankle rolls in and out?
This abrupt movement causes the ankle joint to move out of place. An inward ankle roll is called an eversion sprain. This type of injury affects the ligaments and tendons along the inner part of the ankle. These tendons also help support the arch of the foot.
What is an inward ankle roll?
An inward ankle roll is called an eversion sprain. This type of injury affects the ligaments and tendons along the inner part of the ankle. These tendons also help support the arch of the foot. An outward ankle roll is called an inversion sprain. Inversion sprains affect the outside ankle ligaments.
Is gentle exercise good for your ankle?
A position statement published by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) indicated that gentle exercise is good for blood flow and that it helps speed up healing. Exercises that strengthen muscles in the calf and ankle can be helpful for improving balance and stability, reducing the risk of reinjury.
How to reduce swelling in feet?
Elevating your foot above your waist or heart reduces swelling by promoting elimination of excess fluid. Keep your foot in an elevated position as much as possible, especially in the first few days.
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.
What is the most common type of 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.
Can you sprain your ankle in 2020?
October 13, 2020. It takes less force to sprain an ankle as we age. A few precautions can help to reduce the severity of these injuries or avoid them altogether. Few of us have gone through life without spraining an ankle. Sprains are among the most common musculoskeletal injuries in people of all ages, and ankles are particularly vulnerable ...
What bones are affected by sprains?
Less common are sprains affecting the ligaments of the inner ankle and sprains that injure the ligaments that join the two leg bones (the tibia and the fibula ) just above the ankle. To continue reading this article, you must log in.
Can you go through life without a sprain?
Few of us have gone through life without spraining an ankle. Sprains are among the most common musculoskeletal injuries in people of all ages, and ankles are particularly vulnerable because of the small size of the joint and the forces exerted on it when the body is in motion.
What to do if you have a sprained ankle?
If you suspect you may have sprained your ankle, the first step is to check for the symptoms of a sprain: Next, you should follow the tried-and-true treatment protocol of R.I.C.E: rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Rest: Avoid activities that actively cause pain in your ankle.
What is ankle sprain?
Ankle sprains are very common injuries that can affect anyone—from professional athletes to those with limited mobility, from children to adults. They occur when the ligaments that support the ankle go beyond their normal range of motion and become stretched or torn.
What does it mean when your ankle hurts?
Sudden, sharp pain that forces you to immediately stop moving or take weight off the ankle. Pain that's located on the spot of the injured ligament (for example, on the inside of your ankle) Swelling or bruising at the site of the sprain. Limited or no ability to move the ankle a certain way or stand on it. See a complete list of symptoms.
How to get rid of swelling in ankles?
Elevation: By keeping your ankle elevated above the level of your heart, you can help reduce swelling and pain. Prop up your leg during the day, and put a pillow beneath your ankle in bed at night.
How to relieve pain in ankles?
Prop up your leg during the day, and put a pillow beneath your ankle in bed at night. You can also relieve pain by using topical creams or taking acetaminophen (Tylenol) or NSAIDs such as ibuprofen or naproxen (Aleve).
How long does it take for a sprain to heal?
After 2 to 3 days. After a few days of using the R.I.C.E. 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.
How do I know if I sprained my ankle?
A sprained ankle occurs when the ligaments of your ankle are overstretched usually through a sudden twist of your foot. In more severe ankle sprains, you may even suffer from a ligament tear.
What are the signs of a broken ankle?
A quarter of the bones in your body are found in your foot, which makes it easy to understand why they are one of the most commonly broken bones. Both the metatarsal bones in your foot and the three bones that make up your ankle (tibia, fibula, and talus) are susceptible to injury from overuse, impact, and even a slight twist.
How to tell the difference between a sprained vs. broken ankle
The symptoms of a broken foot vs sprained ankle can be similar, making it hard to tell which one you’re dealing with. One way to tell is that an ankle break will have immediate pain whereas the pain with an ankle sprain can progress over time.
Treating broken and severe ankle sprains
Before starting any treatment protocols, take a trip to your doctor’s office or if it’s a severe injury, to a 24-hour ER. You don’t want to risk a misdiagnosed ankle sprain and end up with reinjury or a long-term injury.
