A sprained ankle is a common injury that happens when the ligaments in the ankle are stretched or torn. Many people wonder if a sprained ankle will heal properly without rest or if they can keep walking on it. Here is a closer look at how ankle sprains heal and whether rest is necessary for recovery.
What happens when you sprain your ankle?
When you sprain your ankle, the ligaments that connect the bones together get overstretched or torn. There are three grades of ankle sprains:
- Grade 1 (mild): Slight stretching and microscopic tears of the ligaments
- Grade 2 (moderate): Partial tear of the ligaments
- Grade 3 (severe): Complete tear of the ligaments
More severe sprains involve complete tears of one or more ligaments. The most commonly injured ligament is the anterior talofibular ligament on the outside of the ankle. Sprains also cause damage to the local blood vessels, resulting in bleeding and rapid swelling.
What is the normal healing process?
Like most soft tissue injuries, ankle sprains heal in three basic phases:
- Inflammatory phase: The first 72 hours after injury involve inflammation, swelling, pain, and bleeding around the injured tissue.
- Proliferation phase: The following weeks involve growth and regeneration of new blood vessels and collagen. This is when the ligaments start to repair.
- Remodeling phase: Over the next several months, the collagen fibers strengthen and align along tension lines. The ligaments regain strength and flexibility.
Complete recovery can take anywhere from a few weeks for a mild sprain up to several months for a severe sprain. Proper treatment aims to control inflammation and swelling early on and protect the ankle from further damage while it heals.
Why rest is recommended
Doctors typically recommend a period of rest, immobilization, and avoiding weightbearing when treating ankle sprains. Here’s why:
- Prevents further injury: Continuing to walk and bear weight can lead to additional ligament damage or instability.
- Allows inflammation to resolve: Rest helps control pain, swelling, and bleeding in the initial inflammatory phase.
- Immobilizes the joint: Braces, casts, or splints hold the ankle steady so the torn ends of the ligaments can reattach.
- Promotes proper healing: Avoiding reinjury lets the ligament regenerate and heal correctly aligned with minimal scar tissue.
Severe (grade 3) ankle sprains almost always require a period of immobilization and restricted activity to heal optimally. Complete ligament tears will not mend properly if they are not stabilized.
Dangers of walking on a sprained ankle
Continuing to walk and bear weight on a severely sprained ankle can interfere with healing and lead to chronic problems. Dangers include:
- Repeat tearing of injured ligaments
- Abnormal healing with scar tissue
- Development of chronic ankle instability
- Persistent pain, swelling, and arthritis
- Fracture risk due to weakened bone strength
Even with mild to moderate sprains, limping and overcompensating can delay recovery. Any activity that re-stretches the injured ligaments can prolong swelling and inflammation.
When can I start walking again?
Your doctor will determine when you can begin putting weight on your ankle based on the severity of the injury. Here are general guidelines:
| Sprain severity | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Grade 1 | Avoid bearing weight for 3-5 days |
| Grade 2 | Avoid bearing weight for 1-3 weeks |
| Grade 3 | Avoid bearing weight for 3-6 weeks |
Your doctor may recommend an ankle brace, splint, or walking boot to stabilize your ankle when you start bearing weight again. Avoid any activities that put strain on the healing ligaments.
Tips for safely walking on a sprained ankle
When your doctor gives the all-clear to walk again, keep these tips in mind:
- Wear an ankle brace or support bandage
- Use crutches or a cane to avoid limping
- Take anti-inflammatories to reduce swelling
- Walk slowly and avoid uneven terrain at first
- Stop activity if you feel pain
- Keep up with physical therapy exercises
Even after you start walking again, limit high-impact activities until all pain and swelling has resolved. Healing ligaments need time to fully regenerate their strength.
Other treatments that aid healing
In addition to rest, other treatments can support proper recovery from an ankle sprain:
- Cold compression: Icing and elevation in the first 72 hours reduces pain and swelling.
- Compression bandage: Wrapping limits swelling and provides stability when resting.
- Anti-inflammatory medication: Over-the-counter drugs like ibuprofen help control inflammation.
- Rehabilitation exercises: Physical therapy strengthens muscles around the ankle and retrains proper motion.
- Massage: Helps drain fluid buildup and prevents scar tissue adhesions.
How long until full recovery?
The timeline for recovering from an ankle sprain depends on several factors:
- Severity of the initial injury
- Presence of other injuries like fractures
- If immobilization was used
- Level of swelling and inflammation
- Effectiveness of rehabilitation efforts
- How well activity was limited initially
Here is a general recovery timeline:
| Grade 1 sprains | 2-4 weeks |
|---|---|
| Grade 2 sprains | 4-8 weeks |
| Grade 3 sprains | 8-12 weeks |
Full recovery takes longer if you try to walk too soon and reinjure the ligaments. Adequate rest and immobilization early on leads to the fastest recovery.
Conclusion
While it may seem convenient to try walking on a sprained ankle right away, this can significantly delay healing or cause chronic instability. Doctors recommend a period of rest, immobilization, and avoiding weightbearing for all moderate to severe ankle sprains. This allows the torn ligaments time to repair before normal stresses are placed on the joint again. With a proper period of rest early on, most people make a full recovery within several weeks to months.