The Ankle Sprain: we have all done it! You jump up to catch a ball and land on another players foot. You are texting while walking and trip on a curb. You got too crazy on the dance floor. Oh, there are so many ways to do it.
How bad is it? What are the best things to do first? How long will it take to heal?
The first thing to understand is that the amount of pain that you are experiencing and the amount of swelling that you see does not correlate to the amount of damage that you have done or how long it will take to heal. Stay calm.
The Ottawa Ankle Rules are a clinical decision rule to determine the need for diagnostic imaging of ankle and/or foot trauma. Have a read - http://www.theottawarules.ca/ankle_rules If you are concerned or confused, it is best to book an appointment @ www.inreach.com. All clear? Best practice is to follow the rules of PEACE & LOVE.
After one week, the acute phase of the injury will end and the true healing will occur. This is a great time to get an assessment from a Physiotherapist. Depending on your restrictions, a Physio will teach you how to proceed and the do and don't. Most importantly, we need to get you back as active as possible within pain limits so that we do not lose strength, mobility and fitness. A Physiotherapist can help personalize this treatment to your goals and needs. For more information, book an initial assessment with Chris Kennedy or Aaron Dobie @ InReach!