Should i wrap a sprained ankle

No matter how it happened, your ankle is now painful and swollen, showing every sign of being sprained. Bandaging a sprained ankle helps stabilize the joint to tissues can heal. What you do in the first few hours and days after a sprain can help you lessen the pain and heal more quickly, so brush up on these ankle sprain care tips. Ankle sprains are very common injuries that can affect anyone—from professional athletes to those with limited mobility, from children to adults.

They occur when the ligaments that support the ankle go beyond their normal range of motion and become stretched or torn. If you suspect you may have sprained your ankle, the first step is to check for the symptoms of a sprain:.

See a complete list of symptoms. If symptoms such as swelling and discomfort continue for over a few days, it is best to seek medical advice. A sprain may require rehabilitation to ensure the injury continues to heal and improve.

A guided program by a physiotherapist is created to decrease the risk of ongoing pain and recurrent injury. View Consultation Hours. Read FAQs. Find Pharmacies. Find Clinics. Please note: Some postcodes are only partially within the House Call Doctor boundary; a positive search result does not guarantee that your address is within service area. To confirm coverage please call 13 55 Applying a compression wrap is easy and can be done at home.

Elastic bandages are inexpensive and available at most drugstores. You can wear a protective brace, such as a splint or a device to keep your ankle from moving immobilizer , over a compression wrap. This can help prevent further injury to your ankle when you try to bear weight on it. How to apply a compression wrap To help control swelling, some doctors recommend wrapping your ankle with an elastic bandage , also called an ACE wrap.

To apply a compression wrap: Cut several horseshoe-shaped pieces of cloth felt to form a 0. The pad will be placed open end up under the anklebone to help keep fluid out of the hollow place under your anklebone. Roll up the elastic bandage if it isn't already. Hold your ankle at about a degree angle. Start where your toes meet the body of your foot. Hold the loose end of the bandage at the side of your foot. Wrap the bandage around the ball of your foot once, keeping it somewhat taut with a light pull.

Proper initial care of your sprained ankle is critical. A compression wrap helps decrease swelling. If swelling is kept to a minimum, it may help your ankle feel better. Applying a compression wrap is easy and can be done at home. Elastic bandages are inexpensive and available at most drugstores.

Here are the steps for the correct application of a compression wrap for a sprained ankle. Hold your ankle at about a degree angle. Start where your toes meet the body of your foot. Hold the loose end of the bandage at the side of your foot.