With a mild sprain, you may be able to resume your normal activities within a few days. However, if your sprained ankle is severe, it may be weeks before you can safely play sports again.
Also, will playing on a sprained ankle make it worse? Don’t play through an ankle sprain While it can be tempting to shrug off an ankle sprain as a minor injury and keep playing or carrying on with your normal activities, when ankle sprains don’t heal correctly, you increase your risk of developing a condition called chronic ankle instability.
Amazingly, how long should you wait to play sports after a sprained ankle? Grade 1 sprains are light sprains that usually allow return to sport in 2-3 weeks. Grade 2 ankle sprains involve greater injury to the ligament and can take up 4-6 weeks to allow full return to sport.
Also know, is it better to rest a sprained ankle or walk on it? Do not walk on a sprained ankle. The inflamed tissue needs time to heal, and walking on it too soon may cause more damage. Ankle sprains are common musculoskeletal injuries that can occur from playing sports or from everyday activities.
Likewise, what to do if you have to play on a sprained ankle?
- 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.
For the common Grade 1 sprain, I typically see return to play with a brace at 1-2 weeks after injury. For the common Grade 2 sprain, I typically see return to play with a brace at 4-5 weeks after injury.
How long should you stay off a sprained ankle?
Depending on the severity of the injury, she advises patients to avoid any impact on the injured ankle, including running and other athletic pursuits, for four-to-six weeks before gradually working up to previous levels.
Can a sprained ankle heal in 2 days?
Mild sprains typically begin to feel better in a few days to a week and heal by six weeks. More severe ankle sprains could take more than a few weeks or months to fully recover.
Do ankle sprains ever fully heal?
They can take longer to heal and sometimes require longer than three months to resolve with treatments like splinting, wearing a boot or a walking cast, and physical therapy. With the proper treatment, however, your high ankle sprain can heal completely.
Can you walk on a Grade 3 sprained ankle?
Grade 3 sprain The joint probably isn’t functional because it’s too unstable, and movement creates intense pain. If you have a grade 3 sprain in the ankle, for example, walking usually isn’t possible. Grade 3 sprains often require a brace or cast for at least a couple of weeks.
Should a sprained ankle still be swollen after a week?
This level of sprain shouldn’t result in any instability or muscle weakness but can cause minor swelling. Grade 1 sprained ankle recovery time is anywhere from 2 weeks to a month, normally closer to the two-week mark with proper treatment.
How do you tell if a sprained ankle is healing?
Most ankle sprains heal with no problems. You should feel much better after 2 weeks. Up to a third of people still have some pain after a year. Once the swelling has gone down and you can walk without pain, you can probably start exercises to build flexibility and strength.
Should a sprained ankle still hurt after a week?
He says most sprains just need two days of ice and rest. “If they still have pain a week later, that’s when they should go to the primary care MD to have the next step to go to the physical therapist,” Dr. John Kennedy said. If pain persists, an orthopedist should take a look.
Do grade 3 sprains require surgery?
A Grade 3 sprain can be associated with permanent instability. Surgery is rarely needed. A short leg cast or a cast-brace may be used for two weeks to three weeks. Rehabilitation is used to help to decrease pain and swelling and to prevent chronic ankle problems.
Should I wrap a sprained ankle overnight?
You should apply a compression bandage as soon as a sprain occurs. Wrap your ankle with an elastic bandage, such as an ACE bandage, and leave it on for 48 to 72 hours.
Is it OK to put weight on a sprained ankle?
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. Put only as much weight on your foot as is comfortable at first.
