Types Of Ankle Sprains
The length of ankle swelling depends greatly on the type or grade of ankle sprain you are dealing with. There are three different grades of ankle sprains.
Grade I Sprain: The ligaments have been overly stretched, but not torncausing your ankle to feel sore and slightly swollen. This ankle injury will subside in a few days.
Grade 2 Sprain: The ligaments have been partially torn. You will experience pain, swelling, and bruising and may not be able to put weight on the ankle.
Grade 3 Sprain: The ligaments in the ankle have been fully torn, causing severe pain, bruising, and swelling. It will not be able to support any weight.
If you are dealing with a Grade 2 or Grade 3 sprain, you have likely torn some of the small blood vessels in the ankle. When this happens, blood can leak into the tissue and cause a black and blue coloration, along with the associated swelling.
What Can Cause A Sprained Ankle
An ankle sprain happens when the ankle is forced to move out of its natural position, causing stretched or torn ligament. Causes of a sprained ankle can include:
- Twisting your ankle during a fall
- Exercising or walking on an uneven surface
- Someone steps or lands on your foot which can be common in sports activities
- Pivoting or jumping then experiencing a difficult landing on your foot
- Shoes that don’t fit properly or high-heeled shoes. Both can make your ankles more vulnerable to injury.
How Long Should You Stay Off A Sprained Ankle
Okay, so this is the million dollar question for anybody with a sprained ankle who is just itching to get back to their sport or chosen activity!
Ultimately you should be guided by your physio and listen to your body at every stage of the process. Dont rush it.
Of course, the true answer depends on the severity of your ankle sprain, but Ive written a handy article which will help you to know if and when you can run with a sprained ankle, and how to re-introduce running when the time comes. The article also shares a follow-along ankle strengthening rehab routine you must try!
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Grade Ii: Moderate Ankle Sprain
6-12 week recovery time. This is where youve partially ruptured one of more of your ankle ligament. Grade II ankle sprains come with acute pain around the ankle joint, and visible swelling. You may also notice bruising around the ankle, and down into the foot. Initially weight bearing will be uncomfortable, and the action of walking will be painful.
Dont be alarmed that the bruising tracks down into your foot thats simply gravity having its effect on the bruising. There may possibly be a little joint instability around your ankle, but not always.
Because of the more substantial damage to the ankle ligaments in a Grade II sprain , the recovery process will take longer.
Your ankle sprain rehab may take up to 12 weeks, before you can return to full sport. The process will being with treatment to manage the pain and reduce the swelling, before moving on to focus on building strength and stability around the ankle, as well as working on balance and proprioception.
How Is An Ankle Sprain Diagnosed

An ankle sprain is diagnosed by a health care professional by looking at the ankle and asking about how the injury occurred. The ankle may also be x-rayed to check for any broken bones.
If the sprain is severe, your doctor may order more imaging tests, including an MRI and CT scan.
That being said, from a practical standpoint, you can usually diagnose it yourself using some common sense.
For example: if your ankle is a bit swollen and stiff but starts to improve after 2-3 days, then you likely have a minor sprain.
On the other hand, if your ankle swells the size of a grapefruit with heavy bruising and discolouration, you are likely dealing with a grade 2 or grade 3 sprain.
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Ankle Sprain Recovery Time Based On Severity Of Injury
Ankle sprain recovery time is between 4 days to 3 months depending on the severity, diagnosis and treatment options you have available to you.
Proper diagnosis and treatment is critical to ensuring quick turn around and preventing and long-term issues like chronic ankle instability or post traumatic osteoarthritis.
There is a range of seriousness for sprained ankles, with most cases taking 3 weeks to 6 months to heal depending on the type of the injury.
What Are The Symptoms Of A Sprained Ankle
The most common symptoms are:
- the pain under the malleolus,
- the appearance of a edema or even a hematoma in the following hours,
- the cracking sensation at ankle level.
It is generally difficult to continue the activity in progress sometimes even to put the foot on the ground, we then speak of functional impotence.
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Sprained Your Ankle We Can Help
Ankle sprains can affect anyone at any age. When you sprain your ankle, you injure the ligaments that connect the bones at the ankle joint. These ligaments are responsible for helping stabilise and support the ankle.
Inversion sprains, where the foot is twisted inwards and you roll outwards onto your ankle, account for approximately 85% of ankle sprains. Inversion injuries usually only affect the ligaments on the outside of the ankle, which are the:
- Calcaneofibular ligament
- Anterior talofibular ligament
- Posterior talofibular ligament
Any activity that causes the ankle to roll forcefully can cause a sprain. These activities can range from simply losing your balance or walking on uneven ground to landing incorrectly during sports or rapidly changing direction from side to side.
How Do I Know I’ve Sprained My Ankle
If you’ve rolled your ankle joint, you most likely have sustained at least a grade 1 sprain. You will not know how bad your sprain is with certainty until you visit a doctor.
If you’re in a significant amount of pain, you can always visit an emergency department or urgent care facility. If you can wait for a clinic visit, then do so. You do not need emergency care for a basic sprained ankle unless you think you’ve suffered a grade 3 sprain.
Your doctor will ask you how you hurt your ankle as well as what your symptoms are. He will want to know if you could stand or walk after you sustained the injury. Many doctors can diagnose a sprained ankle with just basic conversation about how you sustained the injury and what your symptoms were afterward.
Sometimes a doctor will use a more technical diagnostics procedure. They may order an X-ray if you cannot walk more than four or five steps or if your bone is tender. They may also order an ultrasound scan or MRI to see if you have stretched or torn your ligaments.
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Exact Answer: Up To 6 Months
An ankle sprain is a type of musculoskeletal injury that can happen very easily. Ankle sprain would be quite tough as people may have to give up doing physical activity. The intensity of ankle pain would not be the same for all people. People with severe ankle pain would have to suffer for around 2 to 6 months.
If the person has a minor ankle injury or sprain, then the person may get recover in just 3 to 4 weeks. Sometimes, the person may get cured in 15 days of an ankle sprain. The type of treatment provided to the person would affect the lasting time of sprained ankles.
Taking proper rest is another big factor that would make the person recover from the ankle injury faster. The first-degree ankle sprain would last for around 3 to 4 weeks. People with second-degree ankle sprain would have to take treatment and rest for around 4 to 5 weeks.
People with a severe ankle sprain or third-degree ankle sprain would have to take rest and treatment for around 2 months or more.
Will Ankle Stiffness Go Away
Depending on the cause, you may feel pain or stiffness anywhere around the ankle. Your ankle may also swell, and you may not be able to put any weight on it. Usually, ankle pain gets better with rest, ice and over-the-counter pain medications. Healthcare providers can treat injuries and arthritis.
How do you fix a stiff ankle?
To do this:
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What Are The Treatments For Severe Sprains
The principle of rehabilitation is the same, however the treatment times are longer. Lcomplete immobilization lasts 4 to 6 weeks with a reloading at 2 weeks depending on the pain. Here again, rehabilitation must be started as soon as possible in order to combat the deficits linked to immobilization.
When walking is impossible, it is necessary to consult urgently.
Signs Of A High Ankle Sprain

Along with typical symptoms of an ankle sprain like pain and swelling here are specifics to look out for in the case of a high ankle sprain.
If youve experienced a high ankle sprain, you might be able to put weight on your foot and ankle, but youll probably have pain above your ankle, between your fibula and tibia.
Youll likely experience more pain when climbing up or down stairs, or engaging in any activities that cause your ankle bones to flex upward.
A high ankle sprain can also result in a fractured fibula.
If youve fractured one of the bones in your ankle along with a high ankle sprain, you wont be able to put weight on that foot.
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Grade 1 Sprained Ankle Recovery Times
A grade 1 ankle sprain recovery time is anywhere from 2 weeks to a month, normally closer to the two-week mark with proper treatment. A grade 1 ankle sprain is the least severe and, accordingly, requires the least amount of time to recover.
A grade 1 sprained ankle can be treated almost entirely at home.
How To Prevent Ankle Sprains
For kids who are very active in sports, it’s really important to try to remember how to prevent ankle sprains from happening in the first place. Be sure to have your child wear proper, well-fitting shoes, stretch before and after sports, avoid sharp turns and quick changes in direction, and consider taping their ankles or wearing an ankle brace during strenuous sports, especially if they’ve had a previous injury. If your child is a very athletic child, I can guarantee you they’re going to have an ankle sprain. The most important thing is to address it right away, not wait, and let them recover before they get back out on the field.
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How To Reduce Ankle Swelling
Typically, swelling will reside naturally within two weeks of the injury, even with more severe ankle sprains. If severe swelling occurs after this, you may want to consult your doctor for an ankle injury. If your ankle continues to be swollen for a long time, you may be suffering from a chronic ankle sprainwhich can happen with some injuries.
As you wait for your body to naturally absorb the excess blood and fluid in the area, there are a few things you can do to help manage and decrease the swelling.
- Resting your ankle and avoiding putting any weight on your foot.
- Elevating the ankle above the level of your heart to decrease swelling.
- Applying ice every hour for the first 24 hoursand then 3-4 times per day after that.
- Consider pain medications like ibuprofen to decrease swelling.
While swelling can be uncomfortableit is a sign that your body is working to repair the damage you have incurred. The more you know about and can expect with post-ankle-sprain swelling, the better prepared you will be as you recover from an injury such as this.
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How Long Does It Take For A Sprained Ankle To Heal
Ankle sprains are a real pain especially if they sideline you from physical activity. Ankle injuries are far too common.
A 2019 research review showed that approximately 2 million acute ankle sprains occur each year in the United States, making it one of the most common musculoskeletal injuries.
And when you consider that it takes between 3 to 4 weeks to heal a moderate ankle sprain and 3 to 6 months for a more severe injury to heal, finding the right treatment is key.
The good news is you can heal from an ankle sprain and get back to doing the things you enjoy with the proper:
Keep reading to find out about the different types of ankle sprains, the best way to treat them, and how to prevent them from occurring again.
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Sprained Ankle Recovery Time And What Affects It
Sprained ankle recovery time varies from case to case. If you are dealing with a normal sprained ankle, you shouldnt have to wait too long until youre healthy again. However, if youve done significant damage to the ankle, you could be resting it for a while. Heres a breakdown of what sprained ankle recovery time looks like, and what you should expect if you sprain your ankle.
How Can You Prevent A Sprained Ankle
Avoid a sprained ankle by:
- Keep your ankles strong and flexible with strengthening exercises.
- Wear the right shoes appropriate for an activity. Avoid high-heeled shoes when possible.
- Tape a weak ankle for added support or wear an ankle brace during sports activities.
- Warm up before you exercise or play sports.
- Watch where you walk or run to avoid uneven surfaces.
If you suspect you have an ankle sprain and are looking for treatment options, make an appointment today with one of our NY Orthopedics locations in New York City. Our Centers of Excellence offer top-level orthopedic treatment for any concerns about your ankle and other joints, all in one location.
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Kansas City Makes The Conference Championship Game For The Fifth Straight Season
The Kansas City Chiefs have punched their ticket to the AFC Championship Game for the fifth straight season, as Andy Reid’s squad defeated Doug Pederson and the Jacksonville Jaguars, 27-20. Patrick Mahomes suffered an ankle injury toward the end of the first quarter after taking a low hit. He missed one drive, but shook off the pain and returned in the second half to lead Kansas City to victory.
The Chiefs jumped out to a 17-10 halftime lead thanks to two touchdowns from star tight end Travis Kelce. His 10 catches in the first half tied the record for most receptions in a first half of a playoff game since 1991. The best tight end in the NFL finished with 14 catches for 98 yards and two scores.
Travis Etienne scored a 4-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to pull the Jaguars within three points, but the hobbled Mahomes led a 10-play, 75-yard touchdown drive in response, hitting Marquez Valdes-Scantling for a 6-yard score to push the lead back to 10 points. The Jaguars then turned the ball over on consecutive possessions, which opened the door for the Chiefs to run out the clock.
So, what happened in Kansas City on Saturday? Let’s take a look.
How Long Does It Take To Recover From An Ankle Sprain

It depends on the severity of the ankle sprain, but it usually takes a few weeks to recover from an ankle sprain. This time is needed for the ankle to heal properly.
If it is more severe, it may take a few months for the ankle to heal sufficiently. They can range in intensity and take different amounts of time to recover.
Healing time depends on the level of injury and may include medication, physical therapy, and stability devices.
The total process takes 2-8 weeks and may take longer for those with more serious injuries. It may take up to 12 weeks for full post-operative recovery from the brutal Grade III.
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When To Speak To A Health Professional
You should consider attending A& E or phoning if you have any one of the following:
- You are unable to fully weight bear and take 4 steps or more immediately after injury
- If your foot is discoloured and this is not normal for you
- If you experience altered sensation following injury which is lasting
- Immediate bruising and/or gross swelling
- Your ankle looks to be misshapen
- If you have a known blood disorder
How Long Do Sprained Ankles Last
Sprained Ankles | |
In weeks | 24 weeks |
The lasting time of sprained ankles would depend on the following conditions and factors. These includes:
Type of Injury- The type of injury would make a very big impact on the lasting time of sprained ankles. The people with less intensity of sprained injury would take a few days to recover. The people with severe ankle sprain would stay the symptoms of ankle sprain to stay for months together.
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How Can You Prevent An Ankle Fracture
Participate in high-impact sports. The stresses,direct blows and twisting injuries that occur in sports such as basketball,football,gymnastics,tennis and soccer can cause ankle fractures.