- Ankle sprains occur after a rapid and uncontrolled “roll” of the ankle
- Swelling and/or bruising indicates structural damage, usually involving a ligament or bone
- The pain can often worsen over the first 1-2 days due to the body’s acute inflammatory response. This does not mean the injury is getting worse though
TIPS
- Don’t take anti inflammatory meds (eg. Nurofen, Advil, Voltaren) in the first 3 days as it can worsen any bleeding and swelling
- Compression is the most important part of the RICE approach (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation)
- Around 7% of ankle sprains involve cartilage damage inside the ankle, delaying recovery and causing recurrent swelling
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MYTHS
- Fractures can cause less pain and swelling than torn ligaments in the early stages – don’t assume it’s not fractured because you can walk in it.
- Crutches won’t speed up recovery so avoid them unless absolutely necessary or recommended by a health practitioner
- Despite being widely recommended, ice packs have not been shown to improve injury severity or recovery time
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