Grade 2 ankle sprains involve greater injury to the ligament and can take up 4-6 weeks to allow full return to sport. Grade 3 injuries are more severe in nature and often involve full tearing of the ligament and possible bone fracture.
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.
For minor or moderate sprains, most people can start exercising their sprained ankle after a few days of rest. Simple motion exercises and strength training are essential to help the ankle heal properly.
Grade 2: A more severe sprain, but incomplete tear with moderate pain, swelling and bruising. Although it feels somewhat stable, the damaged areas are tender to the touch and walking is painful. Grade 3: This is a complete tear of the affected ligament(s) with severe swelling and bruising.
Since the ankle is still stable, patients can walk soon after injury. Grade 2: A grade 2 sprain is a moderate sprain. With limited movement and ankle instability, there is often a longer rest period before clearance to walk. Patients suffering from a grade 2 strain often have minor ligament tears.
Start rehab with range-of-motion exercises in the first 72 hours after your injury. Continue with further rehab, including stretching, strength training, and balance exercises, over the next several weeks to months.
Treating Injured AnklesOnce you are able to put weight on your foot comfortably and remain stable with no pain is usually a sign that your ankle is healed. If your ankle is still feeling weak and painful, your ankle will most likely need additional treatment.
Swelling. It's normal for a sprained ankle to swell, sometimes for four to six weeks, or longer. But swelling that persists for more than three months may be a sign of trouble.
Since the ankle is still stable, patients can walk soon after injury. Grade 2: A grade 2 sprain is a moderate sprain. With limited movement and ankle instability, there is often a longer rest period before clearance to walk. Patients suffering from a grade 2 strain often have minor ligament tears.
Typically, swelling will reside naturally within two weeks of the injury, even with more severe ankle sprains. If severe swelling occurs after this, you may want to consult your doctor for an ankle injury.
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.
Elevating a sprained ankle reduces the accumulation of fluid in the joint. This can ease swelling, which may also help reduce pain. Try sleeping with the foot and ankle propped up on pillows at a level higher than the heart. When sitting or resting, use pillows or a footrest to keep the foot and ankle elevated.
The pain and swelling of an ankle sprain most often gets better within 48 hours. After that, you can begin to put weight back on your injured foot.
The foot and ankle become swollen, painful and can no longer hold any weight. It takes several days or weeks for the swelling to go down completely, and can take months for the ankle joint to fully recover from the fracture.
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.
Tips to aid healing
- Rest. Resting the ankle is key for healing, and wearing a brace can help stabilize the injured area.
- Ice. Using an ice pack may reduce blood flow to the injury and help ease pain and swelling.
- Compression. Compression helps stabilize the injured joint and may reduce swelling.
- Elevation.
Most experts recommend that you only wrap your ankle during the day for support and protection, while you continue to ice, elevate and rest the injury. While some people feel a sense of comfort from a compression wrap at night—unless it provides pain relief, you shouldn't have your ankle wrapped while you sleep.
What helps injured ligaments heal faster? Injured ligaments heal faster when treated in a way to promote good blood flow. This includes short-term use of icing, heat, proper movement, increased hydration, and several sports medicine technologies like NormaTec Recovery and the Graston technique.
Treatment
- 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.
Symptoms: Signs of a ligament rupture of the ankle jointSome report a crunching or cracking noise. The first signs of a ligament tear are severe swelling and bruising. In a low ankle sprain, the bruise can track into the foot and the toes. A large swelling can appear on the outer side of your 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.
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.
Proper initial care of your sprained ankle is critical. A compression wrap helps decrease swelling. If swelling is kept to a minimum, it may help your ankle feel better. Applying a compression wrap is easy and can be done at home.
During the first 72 hours, heat should be avoided to prevent increased swelling and inflammation. After about 72 hours, heat can be incorporated into treatment to increase blood flow and aid the overall healing process.
After a few days of applying ice consistently to your sprained ankle, you can introduce a warm Epsom salt bath. Epsom salt baths are known for soothing sore muscles and helping reduce stiffness. This is a relaxing way to ease your pain while staying off your ankle.
