How to Treat an Ankle Injury

An ankle injury occurs when the joint is twisted too far out of its normal position. Most ankle injuries occur during sports, walking or hiking, or by wearing ill-fitting foot wear.  An ankle injury can be caused from tripping, falling, jumping, walking on uneven surfaces, items falling on you, or a car accident.

What should you do immediately after an ankle injury? Use the R.I.C.E protocol.

Rest: Rest the ankle and keep weight off of it.
Ice:  Ice immediately and (up to 72 hours of the injury), never leave the ice on for longer than 20 minutes at a time, repeating every 40 minutes.
Compression:  Wrap the injured ankle, keep it immobile and supported.
Elevate: Elevating the injured ankle to at least the level of your heart  – this will reduce swelling.

Ankle injuries are graded as mild, moderate, or severe.

Mild sprains –  grade 1: treat with the RICE therapy for several days until the pain and swelling  has improved. The healing process will take anywhere from 2 to 5 days. Your health care practitioner can prescribe range of motion, stretching, and strengthening exercises.

Moderate sprains – grade 2: treat with the RICE therapy procedures as above.  Your healthcare practitioner or doctor will prescribe a brace or splint to immobilize the ankle, and prescribe exercises to improve range of motion and to strengthen the ankle.  You may not be able to place weight on the ankle for several days.

Severe sprains – grade 3:  this type of sprain involves a complete tear or rupture of a ligament. It’s treated with immobilization of the joint, which can include a cast, and will be followed by a longer period of physical therapy for range of motion, stretching, and strength building.  You will need the use of crutches for mobility and may need surgery to reconstruct the torn ligaments.   This type of sprain requires the immediate attention of a doctor.

The initial treatment of a sprain will include resting the ankle until the swelling goes down, ( 3- 7 days), followed by a period of one to two weeks of exercise to restore range of motion, and flexibility; and then several more weeks (3-12 weeks) before returning to your normal activities.