What to do with a Sprained Ankle

As all of the Winter sports seasons have come to a close we are hearing the question “can I play on this sprained ankle?” The ankle sprain is the most common sporting injury accounting for up to 45% of all injuries. It also has recurrence rates of 73% and has a 59% possibility of long term disability. And yet it is an injury that is commonly brushed off and played through.

The first thing that you should do after even a minor ankle sprain is have it assessed by a physiotherapist or other relevant health professional. When rehabilitating your ankle it is important to optimise the strength, flexibility, balance and motor controlback to at least pre-injury levels. It is also usually a good idea to brace or strap your ankle when returning back to sport.