How to Play on a Sprained Ankle
A sprained ankle, one of the most common sports injuries, occurs when a player stretches or tears a ligament. While the ankle contains many ligaments, most sprains involve the lateral ligaments on the outside of the joint. According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, up to 25,000 ankle sprains occur each day 1. With early protection and adequate rehabilitation, returning to play on a sprained ankle is possible for everyone, not just the pros.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
Confirm the diagnosis. Your doctor may order X-rays or other tests to rule out serious injuries, such as broken bones. If you have no broken bones, the doctor will diagnose the sprain as a grade I, II or III. According to The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, grade I sprains involve little to no ligament tearing and generally heal quickly, while grade III sprains involve a complete tear of one or more ligaments and result in longer times for recovery 1.
What Are the Treatments for a Torn Ligament in the Ankle?
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Properly rehabilitate the injury. Your physician, certified athletic trainer or physical therapist will give you exercises for strength, balance and range of motion, in addition to treatments for pain and swelling. Adhere to the rehabilitation plan, completing all stages the rehabilitation your professional prescribes. The time it takes you to fully rehabilitate a sprained ankle depends on the severity of the injury and how hard you are willing to work in rehab.
Complete a functional progression. In their book "Physical Rehabilitation of the Injured Athlete," Dr. James Andrews, Dr. Gary Harrelson and Kevin Wilk recommend following a functional progression to re-create forces and demands of the activity to which you are returning 2. Gradually build up to the speed, intensity and type of movements and specific motions your sport requires. Start small, with straight-ahead motion, and gradually build up to turning, cutting, jumping and other more demanding activities.
Tips
Start out slowly. Ease your way back into full activity rather than going back to full-speed, high-intensity moves your first day back.
Warnings
To avoid further damage or re-injury, consult your physician or rehabilitation professional before returning to sport and exercise after an ankle sprain.
Listen to your body. If you feel pain, stop and consult your rehabilitation provider.
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References
- American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons: Sprained Ankle
- Physical Rehabilitation of the Injured Athlete: James Andrews; Gary Harrelson; Kevin Wilk
- Wheeless' Textbook of Orthopedics: Ankle Sprain
- Toresdahl B. Common Injuries in Basketball Players. Hospital for Special Surgery. 2016.
- Recovering from an ankle sprain. Harvard Medical School. 2019.
- Newsham K. The Ubiquitous Lateral Ankle Sprain: Time to Reconsider Our Management?. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners. 2019;15(5):343–346.e3.
- Campagne D. Ankle Sprains. Merck Manual Professional Version. 2019.
- Williams GN, Allen EJ. Rehabilitation of syndesmotic (high) ankle sprains. Sports Health. 2010;2(6):460-70. doi:10.1177/1941738110384573
- Ankle Sprains. TeensHealth from Nemours. 2014.
- Ankle Injuries: When is It Time to Call the Doctor?. Cleveland Clinic. 2016.
- Ankle Fractures (Broken Ankle): Anatomy, Symptoms, Treatment. Hospital for Special Surgery.
- Maffulli N, Ferran NA. "Management of acute and chronic ankle instability" J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2008 Oct;16(10):608-15.
Writer Bio
Dr. Jeremy Sibold has been writing in the sports medicine field since 1996. His research is focused on exercise, mental health, and athletic injury, and has been featured in Medicine & Science in Sport & Exercise and USA Today, among others. He is a certified athletic trainer, and holds a Doctor of Education in exercise & sport psychology from West Virginia University.