In order to reduce pain, limit the extent of the injury, and have the best possible basis for a good and speedy rehabilitation, we encourage you to follow the PRICE principle in case of an ankle sprain.

IMPORTANT:

In the event of a visible misalignment of the foot or ankle, immediately seek emergency care or a doctor for assessment.
NOTE: Do not try to correct it!

Treatment for ankle sprain:

Take the athlete off the court and start PRICE treatment immediately. Read more about the PRICE protocol here.

• Restrict movement of the injured area. Use caution when removing shoes and socks.
• Support bandage/compression. Compression is the most important thing.
• Apply ice for 15–20 min, twice.
• Place the ankle higher than the heart.
• Avoid putting weight on the ankle for the first 24 hours. Use crutches if necessary.

Get back to normal movement as quickly as possible, with gradually increased load. Swelling and pain indicate how much you can load the ankle in the days following a severe ankle sprain.

Gentle cycling on an exercise bike with no load (15–20 min daily) helps maintain mobility in the ankle and promotes the healing process.

A little pain is not dangerous, but increased swelling means the ankle is being overloaded. Adjust the load accordingly.