Spraining your ankle is a common injury among people who are staying active and love playing sports, but injuries are also sometimes unavoidable no matter how active you are in your day-to-day life. You could become a victim of an ankle sprain by simply landing on your foot awkwardly whether you’re walking your dog, taking out the trash, riding a bike or something else!
An ankle sprain is one of the most painful injuries that a person can undergo without actually breaking a bone. You will need months to fully recover from it and possibly a couple of physical therapy sessions to be able to move your ankle in the way you are used to without any pain.
Luckily, there are ways to speed up the process to heal a lot faster and reduce the risk of reinjuring your ankle again.
Here are the best tips to heal faster:
Tip 1: Wear an ankle brace
Wearing an ankle brace is a great way to prevent your ankle from injuring yourself again and speeding up the healing process. Aircast ankle brace is a great option for a lightweight brace that is comfortable to wear at all times.
It is best to find an ankle brace that is waterproof and can provide support for any type of sport you enjoy to play.
Tip 2: Be committed to daily stretching
Your tissue will become very weak after an injury due to how much you have stopped using that muscle. Stretching your ankle consistently will keep your muscles strong until you are ready to use it again.
Stretching will also help to keep the blood circulation going in that area to promote faster healing. Simply begin by gently stretching your ankle by rolling it clockwise, counter wise, and forward for 2 to 3 times each day.
It’s important to note to avoid extending your leg too much towards directions that make your ankle hurt.
Tip 3: Keep exercising daily
You must keep exercising and doing activities that you are used to in order to prevent your ankle from becoming too weak. Exercising can strengthen your ankle again after an injury and protect you from being unable to balance your weight on it.
Begin exercising when your ankle swelling has gone down and you are able to walk without any discomfort.
Tip 4: Elevate your ankle
Elevating an injured body part has always been known as a great way to reduce the accumulation of fluid in the joints, which can minimize the swelling and make it less painful.
Place your injured ankle on pillows that are high enough to be above your heart. Whether you are sleeping or sitting on the couch, keep reminding yourself to place your foot on top of pillows to elevate it.
Tip 5: Promote blood flow with massaging the area
Getting a massage is a wonderful way to ease the pain of an injury and promote blood flow. It is highly recommended to find a professional massage therapist who specializes in rehabbing injured ankles.
If your injury is not extremely severe, you can go to a massage therapist who knows how to provide relief by using gentle techniques to promote healing.