Is your ankle sprained?

How are ankle sprains diagnosed?

Signs of an ankle sprain are swelling, pain, bruising and trouble moving the ankle after the injury. Your doctor will usually be able to tell if you have a sprain by asking you some questions about how the injury occurred and by examining your ankle. An x-ray may be needed if your doctor thinks you might have a broken bone.

How can ankle sprains be treated?

Many doctors suggest using the RICE approach—Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation—for treating ankle sprains.

RICE approach to treating ankle sprains

Rest- you may need to rest your ankle, either completely or partly, depending on how serious your sprain is. Use crutches for as long as it hurts you to stand on your foot.
Ice- Using ice packs, ice slush baths or ice massages can decrease the swelling, pain, bruising and muscle spasms. Keep using ice for up to three days after the injury. Don’t use heat for at least three days.
Compression- Wrapping your ankle may be the best way to avoid swelling and bruising. You’ll probably need to keep your ankle wrapped for the first day or two after the injury and perhaps for up to a week or more.
Elevation- Raising your ankle to or above the level of your heart will help prevent the swelling from getting worse and will help reduce bruising. Try to keep your ankle elevated for about two to three hours a day if possible.

Will I need to wear a cast?

This will depend on how serious your sprain is, if you have other ankle injuries and how your doctor thinks your sprain should be treated.

How long before I can use my ankle?

This also depends on how serious your sprain is. If you’re not wearing a cast, your doctor may suggest that you start trying to use your ankle again fairly soon - from one to three days after your injury.

Special exercises are sometimes needed to regain strength and to help reduce the chance of on-going problems. Your ankle may need to be supported with taping or bracing to help protect it from re-injury.