Ankle sprain – the quick fix for your rolled ankle

• 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

Want help choosing the right cam walker boot?

Our Physio experts have listed the key features to look for when buying a cam walker boot (aka. medical boot or moon boot).

The recommendations make it simple to get the right boot first time, to speed up your recovery.

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