Within the first few days is ideal, and sooner if you play a sport or have sprained the same ankle before. Early assessment confirms how serious the sprain is and gets you moving safely. If you cannot put weight on the foot or have pain over the bone, get it checked for a fracture first.
Signs you may need an X-ray
Doctors use a well-known set of rules, developed here in Ottawa, to decide whether an injured ankle needs an X-ray. See a doctor or go to an urgent care clinic or emergency department if:
- You could not take four steps right after the injury, or cannot now
- Pressing on the bony bumps on either side of the ankle is painful
- Pressing on the outer edge of the midfoot or the inner arch bone is painful
- The ankle or foot looks deformed, or the foot is numb, cold or pale
Why not just wait it out?
Many sprains feel better in a week or two, but feeling better is not the same as healed. Ankles that are not rehabilitated are more likely to be sprained again, and some go on to feel unstable or give way. Rehab restores strength, movement and balance, not only comfort.
What you can do in the first days
- Protect the ankle from painful movements, but keep it gently moving
- Put weight on it as comfort allows, using crutches if you need them
- Raise the leg when resting to help with swelling
- Use compression, such as an elastic bandage, if it helps
- Ice can help with pain: see should I use heat or ice?
What physiotherapy involves
- An assessment of which ligaments are involved and how stable the ankle is
- Exercises to restore movement, then strength
- Balance and control training, which is key to preventing another sprain
- A graded return to running, cutting and jumping
- Advice on taping or bracing for your return to sport
See someone even if it is an old sprain
Book an assessment if your ankle still swells, feels weak, gives way, or has been sprained more than once. Long-standing instability often responds to targeted rehab.
You do not need a referral: see do I need a doctor’s referral for physiotherapy? More detail is on our physiotherapy page.
Rolled your ankle?