It’s important to know how to treat a sprained ankle. If you are an active person it is possible for you to have a sprained ankle at some point in your life. A sprained ankle can feel as bad as a broken bone.
How To Treat A Sprained Ankle
Most ankle sprains happen when you twist your ankle suddenly. Running or walking on an uneven surface can put your ankles at a greater risk of getting a sprain. It is always best to run on a flat surface. If you are a hiker you should take extra precautionary steps to prevent being in the woods and suddenly getting a sprained ankle. You don’t have to be active to get an ankle sprain. Be sure to look when going up and down steps as well as when you are stepping on or off a sidewalk. People who have weak bones should take calcium or other vitamins to help their bones. Sprained ankles are one of the most common of ankle injuries.
Our ankles are surrounded by ligaments that are attached to the outer side of the ankle. When you sprain your ankle one or all of the ligaments get stretched passed their limitations. There are three different kinds of an ankle sprains with all three having their own severity.
If you think you have sprained your ankle look for symptoms like pain and swelling. The outside of the ankle will usually bruise. The pain can be minor or severe in an ankle sprain as well as the swelling. Most people think they have fractured their foot when most of the time it is only a sprain. Most people find it is difficult to put pressure on their foot when they try to stand up or walk. Anyone who participates in sports or running, hiking or other outside activities has probably had an ankle sprain. Knowing how to treat a sprained ankle if this should happen to you is easy and in-expensive.
There are several things you can do to avoid an ankle sprain. If you are an athlete there are exercises to help you prevent ankle sprains. Many coaches have their teams perform a balancing exercise several times a week. You can practice this exercise on or off the field. This particular exercise has a proven record decreasing the chances of getting an ankle sprain.
It is not uncommon to see ankle sprains in overweight or obese adults and children. Any time our bodies have a few extra pounds it puts pressure on many of our joints and organs. Being overweight or obese affects our bones as well. Obesity causes pressure on our feet. Carrying extra pounds puts added stress on the feet especially when going up and down steps or stairs or walking anywhere there is an incline. Controlling our weight not only helps our ankles but it also benefits our entire body whether it be our joints, bones or our organs.
If you find yourself having a sprained ankle you can choose to see your doctor or not. If you can walk you probably do not have a broken bone although it does hurt to walk. You can go to your physician or the emergency room and get an x-ray if you want to be sure what damage you have done to your ankle. Since there are three different kinds of an ankle sprains, your physician can advise you on which is the best method on how to treat a sprained ankle. There are several things you can do to treat your sprained ankle. Knowing how to treat a strained ankle will get you back on your feet faster the quicker you start your treatment.
The first thing to do is get off your injured ankle and elevate the foot. Get some kind of ice pack or freeze some peas or rice and apply this to your injured foot while keeping it elevated. This should be done as soon as you can and in the first forty-eight hours. If you absolutely can’t put any kind of pressure on your foot and you know it’s not broken, make a splint for it, wrap with an Ace bandage or find a pair of crutches to use when you have to walk.
Get as much rest as you can and try your best to stay off the injured foot is another way on how to treat a sprained ankle. When any part of our body is injured we must rest the injury as much as possible. Applying the bandage around your ankle will compress the injury. Make sure it is not wrapped too tight. The bandage also keeps your foot stationary avoiding further injury. Elevating your ankle above your heart is another way to treat a sprained ankle. The reason you elevate the foot above the heart is to decrease the swelling. Swelling can cause as much pain as the ligaments in your ankle being stretched.
Knowing how to treat a sprained ankle can give you relief and speed your recovery. Your doctor can also advise you other methods on how to treat a sprained ankle as well. You can take over the counter medications for the pain.
How To Treat A Sprained Ankle – The Conclusion
If you’re an active person it’s best to know about injuries so you can be prepared. Putting your ankle in hot water for a few minutes is another way on how to treat a sprained ankle. After you’ve soaked in hot water change the water to cold and keep reversing this method. This method also helps the soft tissue surrounding your ankle. How to treat a sprained ankle can be easier than you think and get you back on your feet. Rest is one of the best medicines on how to treat a sprained ankle. If you’re an active person this will be unusual for you but it is one of the most important things you can do for your ankle and the most recommended way on how to treat a sprained ankle.
