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Treatment may include:
- Applying ice packs to your ankle for 20-30 minutes every 3-4 hours for the first 2-3 days, or until the pain goes away.
- Elevating your ankle by placing a pillow beneath your foot. Try to keep your ankle above the level of your heart.
- Wrapping an elastic bandage around your ankle to keep the swelling from getting worse
- Wearing a lace-up brace or ankle stirrup (An Aircast or Gelcast)
- Using crutches until you can walk without pain
- Taking anti-inflammatory medication, or other pain medication as prescribed by your physician
- Doing ankle exercises to improve your ankle strength and range of motion. These exercises will help you return to your normal activity or sports
- On rare occasions, severe ankle sprains with complete tearing of the ligaments require surgery. After surgery, your ankle will be in a cast for 4-8 weeks
HOW LONG WILL THE EFFECTS LAST?
The length of recovery depends on many factors, including
- Age
- Health
- Severity of injury, and previous injuries to that joint
WHEN CAN I RETURN TO MY SPORT OR ACTIVITY?
The goal of rehabilitation is to return you to your sport or activity as soon as is safely possible. If you return too soon, you may worsen your injury, which could lead to permanent damage. Everyone recovers at a different rate.
Return to your sport or activity will be determined by how soon your ankle recovers, not by how many days or weeks it has been since your injury has occurred. In general, the longer you have symptoms before you start treatment, the longer it will take to get better.
You may safely return to your sport or activity when, starting from the top of the list and progressing to the end, each of the following is true:
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- You have full range of motion in the injured ankle compared to the uninjured ankle
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- You have full strength of the injured ankle compared to the uninjured ankle
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- You can jog straight ahead without pain or limping
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- You can sprint straight ahead without pain or limping
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- You can do 45 degree cuts, first at half speed, then at full speed
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- You can do 20 yard "figure eights", first at half speed, then at full speed
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- You can do 90 degree cuts, first at half speed, then at full speed
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- You can do 10 yard "figure eights", first at half speed, then at full speed
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- You can jump on both legs without pain, and you can jump on the injured leg without pain
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