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SportsAcute ankle sprain: ice, compression and elevation
Athletic trainers are often on site when the sprain happens and can start care within minutes. You protect the ankle and apply ice, compression and elevation to control pain, limit swelling and reduce secondary injury, and you keep heat away.
Free to startScenarios
- Acute phase: from the injury until the signs of inflammation peak and begin to ease.
- Subacute phase: ice before exercise (cryokinetics).
The steps
- Protect the injured ankle from further injury.
- Apply cryotherapy: an ice pack, water immersion, an ice cup, a cold spray or a commercial unit; 20 to 30 minutes is often recommended.
- With a chemical cold pack, put a barrier such as a wet towel on the skin: it is below freezing and can damage tissue.
- Apply compression to limit swelling: an elastic wrap, adhesive tape, a brace or a cold and compression unit.
- Elevate the injured limb to minimize swelling.
- Do not use heat in the acute and subacute phases.
- In the subacute phase, ice for about 10 minutes so the athlete can exercise without pain, and reapply for 3 to 5 minutes between bouts.
- NSAIDs, oral or topical, reduce pain and swelling and improve short-term function: the decision to include them is made with the physician.
Safety rules that stop the station
- No heat in the acute or subacute phase.
- Never a chemical cold pack directly on the skin.
To pass
- Ice, compression and elevation applied right after the injury.
- No heat, and a barrier under the chemical cold pack.
Official source
Athletic trainers · NATA position statement
National Athletic Trainers' Association Position Statement: Conservative Management and Prevention of Ankle Sprains in Athletes (J Athl Train, 2013)
The National Athletic Trainers' Association position statement on ankle sprains (Journal of Athletic Training, 2013), free on PubMed Central: recommendations 14 to 17, 21 and 22 and its literature review.
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