Medication
Dec 23, 2019 · Once the swelling and discomfort are starting to subside, it’s time to begin strengthening exercises to rehab your sprained ankle. Exercises such as using resistance bands, performing toe raises, and doing lunges are great at helping to rebuild the strength you need in your ankle. As you recover, begin proprioceptive training
Procedures
Feb 08, 2007 · If your symptoms aren't better in two to four weeks, you may need to see a physical therapist or other specialist. Exercises to help restore function and prevent injury Range-of-motion, stretching, and ankle strengthening: First 1–2 weeks Flexes. Rest the heel of the injured foot on the floor.
Therapy
For severe ankle sprains, your doctor may also consider treating you with a short leg cast for 2-3 weeks or a walking boot. People who sprain their ankle repeatedly may also need surgical repair to tighten their ligaments. Rehabilitating Your Sprained …
Self-care
Too often, Dr. Williams notes, people shrug off their ankle sprain and resume normal activities without allowing the body to heal. 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.
Nutrition
Feb 15, 2019 · Most people can start ankle rehabilitation exercises within three days after the ankle injury, if it’s not too severe. But there’s no set timetable. Listen to …
How to strengthen your ankle after a sprain?
Nov 29, 2019 · If the pain is mild and a person prefers home treatment, they can wait a day or two. If the swelling does not go down or the pain gets worse, they should see a doctor.
What is the normal recovery time for a sprained ankle?
Mar 14, 2022 · In general, you should wrap your injured ankle for several days or up to a week after injury, to help manage swelling. Remove the wrap at night and sleep with your ankle elevated on a pillow to help reduce swelling. Other Treatments for Ankle Sprain
What are the best exercises for a sprained ankle?
Do I need physical therapy after an ankle fracture?
How long should you 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.
How long should you rest a badly sprained ankle?
The amount of time it takes for an ankle sprain to heal depends on the severity of the injury. In general, it will take a minimum of 3 to 4 weeks and up to 6 months for an ankle sprain to heal.Mar 11, 2021
Is walking good to rehab a sprained ankle?
Walking on a sprained ankle is not advised. After a sprain occurs, it needs time to heal before weight-bearing. Walking or weight bearing too soon may slow healing or cause further damage.Oct 20, 2020
Can a sprained ankle heal in 2 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.
Should a sprained ankle still be swollen after 2 weeks?
This level of sprain shouldn't result in any instability or muscle weakness but can cause minor swelling. Grade 1 sprained ankle recovery time is anywhere from 2 weeks to a month, normally closer to the two-week mark with proper treatment.Apr 16, 2018
Why is my sprained ankle still swollen after 3 weeks?
"An ankle sprain that lingers beyond 3 months is often an injury to a bone, tendon or ligament that is unlikely to heal without intervention," he says. "And the longer an ankle injury persists without proper treatment, the greater the likelihood that permanent disability will result."Nov 10, 2020
Should a sprained ankle still hurt after a week?
Most ankle sprains heal with no problems. You should feel much better after 2 weeks. Up to a third of people still have some pain after a year. Once the swelling has gone down and you can walk without pain, you can probably start exercises to build flexibility and strength.Feb 25, 2022
When should you start moving sprained ankle?
You should be able to start work on your range of motion 2 or 3 days after your injury. For these exercises, support your leg but let your foot and ankle hang freely.May 16, 2021
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 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 to treat a sprained ankle?
You can treat almost every sprained ankle with the RICE method. The RICE method is simple: rest, ice, compression, elevation. Get off the ankle , put some ice on it, wrap it, and keep it above your heart when you’re resting. If you do that, it will feel like no time at all until your sprained ankle is fully recovered.
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.
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.
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.
How to tell if you have a grade 2 ankle sprain?
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. If you feel like you could walk on the ankle, but might stumble or fall, you’re dealing with a grade 2 sprained ankle.
Who is Eric Turner?
Eric Turner is a content writer who has been working with Orthopedic Associates since early 2017. Eric started writing the day after he learned to read, and hasn't stopped since.
How to treat a sprained ankle?
The early treatment of an ankle sprain is the "RICE" method of treatment. 3  This is focused on reducing ankle swelling and alleviating pain: 1 Rest: The first 24-48 hours after the injury is considered a critical treatment period and activities need to be limited. Gradually put as much weight on the involved ankle as tolerated and discontinue crutch use when you can walk without a limp. 2 Ice: Ice application is effective to reduce swelling and alleviate pain. While ice packs can be helpful, there are special ice wraps that are made to mold to the joint. 3 Compression: Use compression in the early phase of ankle sprain treatment. Using an Ace bandage, wrap the ankle from the toes all the way up to the top of the calf muscle, overlapping the elastic wrap by one-half of the width of the wrap. The wrap should be snug, but not cutting off circulation to the foot. 4 Elevation: Keep your sprained ankle higher than your heart as often as possible. This can also help to dramatically reduce swelling. Keep in mind, propping your ankle on a chair while you are sitting up does not elevate above your heart.
How to recover from ankle injury?
The first step toward recovery is to regain normal ankle mobility. 3  Mobility can be limited by pain and swelling; therefore, in order to effectively treat restricted motion, try to address pain and swelling. After ankle injuries, range-of-motion activity should start as soon as possible. 4  Rarely do injuries require immobilization (as in a cast or boot), since most injuries can be treated with early motion exercises. Check with your doctor to determine when it's okay to start motion activities.
What are some exercises that strengthen muscles?
Basic strengthening activities include work with resistance bands, toe raises, and lunges. 2  Working with a physical therapist is often beneficial to allow the therapist to target specific muscles that may have been injured. 4.
How to reduce swelling in ankle?
Gradually put as much weight on the involved ankle as tolerated and discontinue crutch use when you can walk without a limp. Ice: Ice application is effective to reduce swelling and alleviate pain. While ice packs can be helpful, there are special ice wraps that are made to mold to the joint.
What is the word used to describe your body's ability to sense the position of a joint?
Proprioception is the word used to describe your body's ability to sense the position of a joint. 5  For example, when you close your eyes, you can feel the position of your body without necessarily looking to see the position of your body. Proprioception also helps control the position of your body.
What is the final step in recovery from ankle injury?
3  This may include drills aimed at cutting, pivoting, or jumping, such as those that mimic movements of your chosen sport. It is important to perform these activities in a simulated environment before returning to your normal sports activities.
How to prevent ankle sprain?
Strengthening Exercises. Once motion has been achieved and swelling and pain are reduced, you should start strengthening the ankle. 3  Following an injury such as a sprain, the ankle will be weak and susceptible to reinjury. Ankle-strengthening exercises can help prevent reinjury and return you to normal activities.
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.
Why is balance and stability important?
Balance and stability training is especially important to retrain the ankle muscles to work together to support the joint and to help prevent recurrent sprains. These exercises may involve various degrees of balance challenge, such as standing on one leg.
What does a physical exam for a foot injury look for?
During a physical, your doctor will examine your ankle, foot and lower leg. The doctor will touch the skin around the injury to check for points of tenderness and move your foot to check the range of motion and to understand what positions cause discomfort or pain.
When is surgery performed on ankle?
In rare cases, surgery is performed when the injury doesn't heal or the ankle remains unstable after a long period of physical therapy and rehabilitative exercise. Surgery may be performed to:
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.
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.
How to treat a sprained ankle?
Treating your sprained ankle properly may prevent chronic pain and looseness. For a Grade 1 (mild) sprain, follow the R.I.C.E. guidelines: 1 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. 2 Ice it to keep down the swelling. Don't put ice directly on the skin (use a thin piece of cloth such as a pillowcase between the ice bag and the skin) and don't ice more than 20 minutes at a time to avoid frostbite. 3 Compression can help control swelling as well as immobilize and support your injury. 4 Elevate the foot by reclining and propping it up above the waist or heart as needed.
What happens if you don't heal your ankle?
If you don't complete rehabilitation, you could suffer chronic pain, looseness, and arthritis in your ankle. If your ankle still hurts, it could mean that the sprained ligament has not healed right, or that some other injury occurred.
What is grade 3 ankle sprain?
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. For severe ankle sprains, your doctor may also consider treating you with a short leg cast for 2-3 weeks or a walking boot.
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.
Can a sprained ankle heal?
Every ligament injury needs rehabilitation. Otherwise, your sprained ankle might not heal completely and you might re-injure it. All ankle sprains, from mild to severe, require three phases of recovery:
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 to do if you have a sprained ankle?
Once you have a good range of motion and can comfortably bear weight on your sprained ankle, it’s time for the next step — strengthening exercises. These exercises require a resistance band. This is a simple elastic band that you can get from a sporting goods store, online, or a physical therapist’s office. 8.
How long does it take to heal an ankle injury?
Most people can start ankle rehabilitation exercises within three days after the ankle injury, if it’s not too severe. But there’s no set timetable. Listen to your own body, and follow your doctor’s advice. For the first few days, you’ll need to rest and apply an ice pack to your injured ankle for 10 to 15 minutes every few hours.
How to move ankles in all directions?
This gentle exercise helps you to move your ankle in all directions. 2. Knee motion. Sit in a chair with your foot flat on the floor. Keeping your foot on the floor, slowly move your knee from side to side for 2 to 3 minutes. This stretches and relaxes the ligaments around your ankle.
How long does it take to recover from a sprain?
You can usually begin movement or very light exercises within three days of the injury. Recovery time depends on the severity of the sprain, your age, and your general physical health. Last medically reviewed on February 15, 2019.
What is the Achilles tendon?
Your Achilles tendon attaches the muscles of your calf to your heel bone, passing behind your ankle. Stretching your Achilles tendon is the next set of exercises to take up as soon as you can.
What is the key part of rehab?
A key part of rehab is regaining control of your muscles. When you have a sprain, nerve fibers are damaged. As you recover strength, your brain has to regain its sense of where your ankle is and how precisely to move it. This sense is called proprioception.
How to get rid of ankle pain?
7. One-leg balance. With your hands on a wall, countertop, or chair back, lift up your good leg behind you so that your weight rests on the leg with the injured ankle. Try to hold this for 20 to 30 seconds.
How to heal ankle sprain?
As the swelling goes down, walking can promote healing. Start by walking short distances within the house.
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 strengthen the toes?
A person can try performing the following exercises for 10–15 minutes every other day: 1 On a low step, stand with the heels hanging backward over the edge. Drop the heels slightly, and hold the position for a few seconds. Then, elevate the heels above the toes. 2 Balance on one foot for 30–60 seconds, then switch sides, to promote equal strength in both joints. 3 Loop an elastic exercise band under the foot for gentle resistance. Move the ankle clockwise, then counterclockwise. 4 Play catch while balancing on one leg, then the other.
Why do you need a brace for ankle pain?
Resting the ankle is key for healing, and wearing a brace can help stabilize the injured area. Attempting to return to sports or other activities too quickly increases the risk of another injury.
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.
How to stop swelling in ankle?
If possible, wear a temporary brace or bandage to support the joint and prevent it from moving.
How to heal a broken ankle?
Gently stretch the ankle by moving it in all directions at least three times each day. Try flexing the foot forward, then backward, or rolling it clockwise, then counterclockwise.
