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Especially if you're involved in sports, you've likely sprained your ankle at one time or another. Although a sprained ankle can be painful and uncomfortable, the injury is usually not serious and can often be effectively treated at home. If you've injured your ankle and are wondering what to do about it, read on to learn how to treat a sprained ankle.
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Especially if you're involved in sports, you've likely sprained your ankle at one time or another. Although a sprained ankle can be painful and uncomfortable, the injury is usually not serious and can often be effectively treated at home. If you've injured your ankle and are wondering what to do about it, read on to learn how to treat a sprained ankle.
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Introduction
- A sprained ankle occurs when the foot twists or turns awkwardly, causing damage to the ligaments that support the joint. Sprained ankles are the most common type of sports injuries incurred in the United States. Most sprains are not serious and, except for the most severe sprains, do not require professional medical treatment.
Symptoms
- You will usually know right away if you have sprained your ankle. Although the pain may take a few minutes, or even hours to set in, a sprain occurs after an awkward twist of the ankle, which may cause you to fall down. The area usually becomes swollen and tender and it is usually painful to put pressure on the injured area.
- If the sprain is severe, you may hear a popping noise, which indicates that a ligament has been torn. If this is the case, or if you are still unable to put pressure on the area, or severe pain persists without abatement for several days, see a doctor, as this could be an indication of a more serious injury.
Sprained Ankle Treatment
- Experts recommend that you treat a sprained ankle in accordance with the R.I.C.E principle. R.I.C.E is an acronym for Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. To treat the pain that is often associated with a sprained ankle, use an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory pain reliever such as Ibuprofen.
Rest
- Get off your feet as soon as possible after spraining your ankle. Avoid putting pressure on the injured area whenever possible and try not to walk around for a day or two to avoid injuring the ankle further. If necessary, get yourself a pair of crutches so you can get around without putting pressure on your injured ankle.
Ice
- Icing the injured area will reduce the amount of swelling and may help to alleviate the pain. As soon as you can after suffering the injury, put a bag of ice, an ice pack, or a bag of frozen vegetables on your ankle. Be sure to wrap the ice in a towel before applying it to avoid frostbite. You can ice your ankle for up to 20 minutes at a time every hour, but do not apply ice for more than a combined three hours over a 24-hour period.
Compression
- Compressing the area using a tensor bandage or other sports wrap will help reduce swelling and provide support for your injured ankle. Starting a few inches above the toes, wrap the bandage around and up to your mid-calf. The bandage should be tight, but not so tight that it interferes with blood flow. If your toes start to turn purple or go numb, the wrap is too tight.
Elevation
- For two or three days after spraining your ankle, elevate your leg so that the injury is above the level of your heart whenever possible. Prop your foot up on a pillow or stack of pillows when you are lying down and rest your foot on a table or chair when sitting.
Conclusion
- Although your mobility will be limited and you may experience pain after spraining your ankle, you should be up and about again in a few days if you follow the R.I.C.E treatment principle. If the pain in your ankle gets worse or persists for several days, visit your doctor to ensure that you have not incurred a more severe injury.
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