3 Steps To Treat Ankle Sprains

There's nothing worse than suffering an ankle sprain and being forced to reduce the amount of activity you perform on a daily basis. Whether you're an avid runner or enjoy the occasional stroll through the park, a twisted ankle can limit these activities for weeks or even months. It's frustrating that such a minor injury can have such a major impact on your movement and ability to perform daily tasks. Everything from driving and walking can become painful or impossible altogether. 

In order to reduce the amount of time spent recovering from this injury, it's important to undergo twisted ankle treatment. Here are three steps you can follow to help treat an injured ankle. 

1. Apply an ice pack 

Ice packs are a classic form of twisted ankle treatment. Despite the age and popularity of this form of treatment, it is still very effective. Ice packs or ice baths can help to reduce bruising, swelling, muscle spasms, and pain. All of these are common symptoms of a sprained ankle. It's advisable to place an ice pack on an injured ankle for around 15 minutes every three to four hours. This routine should be performed for the first three days following the injury. It's important to not leave the ice pack on too long. Prolonged exposure to cold temperatures could lead to nerve damage. 

2. Wear an ankle sleeve 

Wearing an ankle sleeve is an excellent sprained ankle treatment that can be performed at home for minimal costs. Ankle sleeves help to accomplish two primary goals: compression and rest. After you suffer an ankle injury, it's important to keep the surrounding area under a little bit of pressure. This compression helps to minimize the swelling that follows an ankle sprain. Ankle sleeves help to ensure that the compression isn't too strong that circulation gets restricted. These sleeves also help to keep the ankle rested by restricting its movement. It's difficult for people to keep their ankle from moving thorughout the day without some sort of obstruction. The ankle sleeve accomplishes this goal by limiting the movement of this joint. 

3. Elevate your ankle 

Elevation is another important component to a thorough sprained ankle treatment regimen. It's recommendable to keep your ankle at the level of your heart. This elevation helps to reduce pain and swelling by decreasing the amount of blood that flows to the injured area. Too much blood concentrated in the ankle area could lead to nasty swelling and a significant amount of pain. You don't have to purchase anything fancy for this form of treatment. A stack of pillows or a comfortable stool should be more than enough to accomplish the goal. It's important to not remain in this position for too long. 

Treating an ankle sprain is the quickest and most efficient way to keep the pain and swelling to a minimum while reducing recovery time. With the right ankle treatment, you'll be better in no time.