Treating a Rolled Ankle or Sprain
Your ankle is under immense weight bearing pressure every day. Find out how you can treat and prevent a rolled ankle or sprain to give yourself the best chance of successful recovery.
Your ankle is under immense weight bearing pressure every day. Find out how you can treat and prevent a rolled ankle or sprain to give yourself the best chance of successful recovery.
A rolled ankle or ankle sprain is one of the most common ankle injuries.
When you roll your ankle you stretch or tear one or more of the ligaments around your ankle. Ankle sprains range from mild to extreme severity. Sometimes you might simply lose your balance, lightly roll your ankle and only experience minimal pain that subsides quickly. On another occasion, you might hear a loud pop following by swelling and severe pain.
Regardless of the level of pain you experience, it’s important to consult a qualified physician as soon as possible. If not treated properly, a sprained ankle can increase your risk of re-injury as much as 40-70%.
Treating a rolled ankle aims to keep inflammation, swelling, and ankle pain to a minimum. You want to resume using your ankle joint normally as quickly as possible.
Before you consult a qualified physician you can follow and apply the RICER protocol (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation, Referral) for initial pain relief and to prevent any further damage.
When you consult a qualified physician, they may advise some of the following treatments for your ankle sprain3:
Strapping your ankle with adhesive tape is crucial for the prevention of ankle injuries.
You can also use strapping tape to help you recover from an ankle sprain and help prevent further injury, like when you land awkwardly during sport or running. So, it’s not surprising that elite athletes, professionals and informed players routinely tape their ankles prior to playing or training to help reduce the chance of injury.
Follow this simple taping method to prevent an ankle injury:
Always read the label. Use only as directed. If symptoms persist contact your healthcare practitioner.
Although compiled with great care, please note that the tips and advice given on this website by no means substitute medical advice and treatment. If you have or suspect a health problem, consult a doctor and follow medical advice regardless of what you have learned on this website. Always read carefully and follow the instructions for use or the leaflets of our products. For further information about our products, please contact us here.
ALWAYS READ THE LABEL. FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS FOR USE. IF SYMPTOMS PERSIST, TALK TO YOUR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL.