When you sprain your ankle, you will need the proper care to get your foot back to its proper health. If you notice tenderness, you may have a limited range of motion, and in many cases, you will need imaging to determine how bad the sprain is. While there are many self-care options you can use, a podiatrist will recommend additional treatments that will be necessary.

How To Treat A Sprained Ankle

Rest-you should avoid all activities that will cause discomfort and swelling and elevate your ankle above the level of your heart. It will reduce swelling. It’s essential to elevate your foot at night.

Ice-icing your ankle with an ice pack for no longer than 15 minutes will help as well. Do not do this if you have diabetes, vascular disease, or increased or decreased sensation without talking to your doctor first.

Medications-in many cases, your podiatrist will prescribe a pain reliever to help with the pain, inflammation, and swelling.

Crutches-because walking is painful, you may need crutches or a walking boot to help your mobility.

Physical therapy–balance and stability might be needed to help with your strength.  Various exercises are offered to help get your activity level up and help your movement become easier.

Surgery-in extreme cases, you will need surgery to repair the ligaments or reconstruct them.

There are ways to prevent sprained ankles, including avoiding high-heeled shoes and practicing stability training and balance. If you have weak ankles, support braces can help you, and you should always be careful when walking or running as you can get injured easily. Warming up before you exercise is a crucial step because it prevents serious injuries during your workout.

Use the best shoes and make sure they fit well. With the proper shoes and maintaining muscle strength and flexibility, you can ensure the health of your ankles.

Our medical team at Your Next Step Podiatry has offices in several convenient locations. We serve Berwyn, Chester County, and the Western Suburbs. We also serve Montgomery County, Greater Philadelphia and Lower Merion, and the Downingtown areas. We can help bring your feet back to their best health. Board-certified Dr. Eric Ricefield, Dr. Mark Yagodich, and Dr. Aliza V. Eisen, board qualified, offer diagnoses and appropriate services for treating various conditions. Call our Downingtown office at (610) 873-0322 or our Ardmore office at (610) 642-8837 to see us right away.