What To Do For A Sprained Ankle

The most common ankle injury is the sprain: a forceful stretching of certain ligaments on the outside of your foot that causes pain, swelling, and sometimes bleeding.

Your ankle will heal on its own, but only if it is allowed to do so. Your body always heals itself, given the proper conditions. Using the acronym PRICE, here are the five most important things that you can do before consulting a doctor to help the healing of your sprained ankle:

P - PROTECT: Your first job ought to make sure that you don't reinjure those ligaments. A second sprain is often worse than the first and will take even longer to heal.

R - REST: This doesn't mean bed rest, nor that you should stay off your feet for 6-8 weeks. It does mean that you should play it safe. If there's no need to play soccer or jog the Peoria riverfront, you probably shouldn't.

I - ICE: This is critical. The ice will not only have an analgesic effect (helping the pain go away), but it will also reduce swelling and inflammation in the area. Ten minutes on, an hour off.

C - COMPRESS: Taping your ankle or wearing a simple air cast will help to compress your ankle, also helping to prevent additional swelling. If the tape is too tight you'll cut off all circulation to the foot, but the tape should be snug.

E - ELEVATE: Again, this is an anti-swelling maneuver. If you can lift your ankle above the level of your heart, you'll be able to use gravity to get the fluids out of your foot and back to the rest of your body.

A chiropractor can also help your ankle. The violent motion of the sprain may have misaligned your heel bone and other bones of your ankle. Until these bones are properly realigned, you'll aggravate those ligaments every time you walk or run. The gentle Activator Methods chiropractic technique that we use at Johnson Family Chiropractic will not aggravate your ankle pain further, but will help to restore the proper relationship between bones and the ligaments.

Cold laser therapy, ultrasound therapy, and exercises can also be essential parts of your sprained ankle treatment plan to get you back up on your feet.

If you have a sprained ankle, be sure to follow the PRICE method and contact your Peoria chiropactor today for a consultation.

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