Whether you’ve had an ankle sprain before or not, wear supportive shoes . This helps prevent your foot from twisting or your ankle joint from moving out of place.
What should you not do with a sprained ankle?
Rest . Avoid doing the activity that caused the sprain, such as running or playing sports. If it hurts to walk on the sprained toe, try to stay off the foot until it feels better. Ice.
Is it OK to walk on a sprained ankle?
Walking: Did you know that walking can promote healing for a sprained ankle? In the first few days, you should stay off the foot. As the swelling decreases and the ankle starts to heal, short distance walking can be good for your recovery. Start slowly and gradually build up your distance and endurance.
What should you wear for a sprained ankle?
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.
Should you take your shoe off with a sprained ankle?
Should I Leave My Shoe On My Foot? NO! A common misconception about ankle sprains is that you should leave your shoe on your foot to compress swelling, but this actually can cause more damage down the road. Immediately after the injury occurs, you should remove your shoe , and use ice to reduce pain and swelling.
What to do immediately after sprained ankle?
- 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.
Can a sprained ankle get worse?
If your symptoms last more than a week without getting better, or if they seem to be getting worse and are accompanied by a fever, make an appointment to see your doctor as soon as possible. More severe sprains should be treated by a healthcare provider.
What happens if you dont rest a sprain?
A sprained ankle can turn into a serious chronic instability if left untreated. When you leave torn ligaments to heal on their own, they can fuse together haphazardly and form weak, inflexible scar tissue. Your range of motion can suffer tremendously, resulting in difficulty walking for the long term.
How long does a rolled ankle take to heal?
Mild, low-grade ankle sprains will usually heal in one to three weeks with proper rest and non-surgical care( such as applying ice). Moderate injuries may take between three and four weeks. Because of limited blood flow to the ligaments of the ankle, more severe injuries may take between three and six months to heal.
What is the difference between a rolled ankle and a sprained ankle?
When you roll your ankle you stretch or tear one or more of the ligaments around your ankle. Ankle sprains range from mild to extreme severity . Sometimes you might simply lose your balance, lightly roll your ankle and only experience minimal pain that subsides quickly.
Can walking on a sprained foot 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.
How do you know if ankle injury is serious?
People with a more severe ankle sprain — characterized by extreme bruising or swelling and an inability to bear weight on the foot without significant pain, or when there doesn’t seem to be any improvement over the first several days after the injury — should seek medical attention, Drs. SooHoo and Williams say.
When is it safe to walk on a sprained ankle?
How Long Should You Wait to Walk on a Sprained Ankle? Generally speaking, the sooner you can walk on your ankle the better . If it is not too painful to walk on your ankle immediately after an injury it’s a good sign that you don’t have severe ligament or bone damage. Take it easy for the first 24 to 72 hours.
Why you shouldn’t ice a sprained ankle?
“Ice doesn’t increase healing—it delays it ,” Mirkin says, And a 2013 review of studies on the best ways to treat a sprained ankle, conducted by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, agrees. It gave icing a grade of “C.”
Should I wrap a sprained ankle at night?
Wrap it snugly , but not so tight that it causes numbness or tingling. And remove or significantly loosen it when you go to bed at night. Elevation: By keeping your ankle elevated above the level of your heart, you can help reduce swelling and pain.
How many days should you ice a sprained ankle?
Use ice treatments every 2 to 4 hours for the first 3 days after your injury . Compression: You can wrap your sprained ankle to avoid swelling and bruising. You might need to do this for several days or a week after your injury.
