Sprained ankle why elevate

Kaminski TW, et al. National Athletic Trainers' Association position statement: Conservative management and prevention of ankle sprains in athletes.

Journal of Athletic Training. How to care for a sprained ankle. Safran MR, et al. In: Instructions for Sports Medicine Patients. Philadelphia, Pa.

Porter DA, et al. Principles of rehabilitation for the foot and ankle. Accessed May 27, Related Ankle sprain Sprained ankle. The swelling can put pressure on the nerves in the area, causing you pain.

Elevation helps get the excess fluid back up the leg, eventually becoming resorbed into the system. Ask U. Educational text answers on HealthTap are not intended for individual diagnosis, treatment or prescription. For these, please consult a doctor virtually or in person. For potential or actual medical emergencies, immediately call or your local emergency service. Ask your question Ask question Free.

HealthTap doctors are based in the U. Video chat with a U. Get prescriptions or refills through a video chat, if the doctor feels the prescriptions are medically appropriate. Please note, we cannot prescribe controlled substances, diet pills, antipsychotics, or other abusable medications. Connect with a doctor now. Get help now: Ask doctors free Educational text. For severe ankle sprains, your doctor may also consider treating you with a short leg cast for weeks or a walking boot.

People who sprain their ankle repeatedly may also need surgical repair to tighten their ligaments. Every ligament injury needs rehabilitation. Otherwise, your sprained ankle might not heal completely and you might re-injure it. All ankle sprains, from mild to severe, require three phases of recovery:. Phase 2 includes restoring your ankle's flexibility, range of motion , and strength. Phase 3 includes gradually returning to straight-ahead activity and doing maintenance exercises, followed later by more cutting sports such as tennis, basketball, or football.

Once you can stand on your ankle again, your doctor will prescribe exercise routines to strengthen your muscles and ligaments and increase your flexibility, balance, and coordination. Later, you may walk, jog, and run figure eights with your ankle taped or in a supportive ankle brace. It's important to complete the rehabilitation program because it makes it less likely that you'll hurt the same ankle again.

If you don't complete rehabilitation, you could suffer chronic pain, looseness, and arthritis in your ankle. This helps it heal and also helps prevent further injury. Your doctor might have you use crutches if walking is too painful. Stay off your feet most of the time until you can walk without pain. Ice helps keep the swelling down. It also helps reduce pain. Put an ice pack on the ankle for 15 minutes.

Take the ice off for 10 minutes. Put ice back on for 10 minutes. Then use ice for 15 minutes at a time, 3 times a day, for 2 more days. Compression wrapping the ankle with a strip of elastic cloth will help decrease swelling and support your ankle. You can use an elastic wrap from the drug store or get an air splint from your doctor. Your doctor will show you how to use it. Be careful not to wrap the ankle too tightly.

This would slow the blood flow to your foot. Use the elastic bandage for 1 to 2 days. Keeping your foot raised helps decrease pain and swelling. When you elevate your ankle, try to keep it at the level of your heart. Lying on a couch with pillows under your foot is better than sitting in a chair with your foot on a footstool. Try to keep your foot elevated for 2 to 3 hours a day. Most doctors recommend anti-inflammatory medicines such as ibuprofen brand names: Advil, Motrin, Nuprin , naproxen brand name: Aleve , or ketoprofen brand name: Orudis KT.

You can also take acetaminophen for pain brand names: Tylenol, Datril, Panadol , although this medicine is not an anti-inflammatory.