What to Do for a Sprained Ankle: RICE and Beyond

While athletes are no strangers to sprained ankles, the reality is that this sports injury is also common off the field. In fact, about half of sprained ankles treated in emergency departments occur in far less active ways, such as misstepping off a curb and rolling the ankle.

Whatever the origin story, sprained ankles are a very common injury, and about two million acute sprains occur each year in the United States. 

If you suspect that you or a family member has a sprained ankle, your immediate attention is important and can set the stage for better healing. To that end, the team at Michigan Avenue Primary Care covers a few best practices for sprained ankles that everyone should know.

Start with RICE

Since the 1970s, the RICE method has been a go-to treatment for soft-tissue injuries like sprained ankles. RICE stands for:

• Rest — stay off your ankle
• Icing — ice your injury to stop pain and inflammation
• Compression —helps to prevent swelling 
• Elevation — keep your ankle up to prevent fluid buildup

You should start the RICE method as soon as you can after your injury and continue it for the next 24-48 hours. As for frequency, we recommend icing for 10-20 minutes every hour or two. While you can stop icing for sleep, you can still elevate and wrap your ankle to keep it stable.

Evaluating your sprain

As you cycle through the RICE method for your sprained ankle, we want you to watch for any changes. If your ankle seems to be improving and you’re able to get around on it, we suggest you continue to monitor the joint and take it easy until your ankle feels strong again.

If, however, you have persistent swelling and/or pain and are having trouble putting weight on your ankle, it’s time to come see us so we can evaluate the extent of the damage, which is categorized by grade:

• Grade 1 — the ligaments in your ankle are stretched
• Grade 2 — there’s partial tearing in your ligament
• Grade 3 — there’s a complete tear of the ligament

As you might imagine, symptoms increase in severity with each grade, as does the level of care you need. So, if you’re still hobbling on your sprained ankle after a day or two, it’s a good idea to come see us for a more comprehensive evaluation.

Preventing bigger problems with the right sprained ankle care

One of the biggest reasons we want you to err on the side of caution when it comes to sprained ankles is that up to 40% of them go on to develop chronic symptoms lasting a year or more.

While some chronic ankle instability may be unavoidable, a lot of the issue stems from inadequate care of the original injury. In other words, too many people just grit their teeth and limp on through, which can prevent healing and open the door to longer-term problems.

By coming to see us for an evaluation, we can assess the damage and ensure you have the right treatment plan in place to prevent ongoing issues. 

The bottom line is that the care you receive for your sprained ankle, especially right from the start, is incredibly important and can have both short- and long-term consequences. So, if you’re at all unsure about whether to come see us for this type of acute injury, our answer is Yes.

To set that in motion, please contact us at our clinic in Chicago, Illinois, in The Loop, to schedule a consultation with one of our healthcare providers. You can also visit our urgent care center during operating hours, Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4 pm.