Should You Walk on a Sprained Ankle?
November 23, 2018 • • foot care
Sprained ankles are such a common injury that should you experience one it is easy to want to dismiss it as “nothing serious” and go on with your regular day-to-day activities, but doing that could cause problems. Avoid experiencing problems by learning what you should do if you sustain one of the many different types of foot and ankle injuries.
Can You Walk with an Ankle Sprain?
People’s biggest concern with an ankle sprain is whether or not they can walk. Luckily, this type of injury doesn’t require you to remain immobile. It is recommended that you rest and elevate your foot as much as possible when you have a sprain, but you do not need to remain immobile. It is completely safe to walk for short periods of time or short distances on a sprain especially if you are protecting the injured foot or ankle with a brace. If you need to walk for prolonged periods of time or long distances you will want to consider using crutches or a scooter. This will allow you to remain active and mobile without putting you at risk for further injuring your foot or ankle.Other Things to Do if You Have an Ankle Sprain
Resting your foot as much as possible is the best way to treat your injury. However, other things you will want to do include:- •Ice – follow the 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off rule for icing. This will help reduce inflammation.
- •Compression – stabilize the ankle and foot by stabilizing the ankle with bandages, splints, or braces
- •Elevation – keep your foot elevated
- •Pain relief – take acetaminophen to control any pain. Try to avoid taking any anti-inflammatory medications for at least 48 hours as you will want the body to start the healing process naturally and these medications can prevent natural healing. Consult with a doctor to make sure it is safe to take these medications.
