Sprained ankle - how long to avoid sport?
Discussion
Not exactly a PH-macho injury, but I twisted my ankle last night playing badminton. (sigh) Don't think it's a bad one (or worse) - last night I had to reverse up the stairs on my backside, but this morning I could slowly hobble downstairs.
It's been many years since I've managed to do this. So I'm wondering what a realistic recovery period is? I've got a game booked for Monday and one for Thursday, then one for Monday week. I won't risk it if I don't feel comfortable, but it would be useful to let the badminton partners have as much time as possible to get someone else to stand in.
Am resting today at home, and over the weekend, FWIW.
It's been many years since I've managed to do this. So I'm wondering what a realistic recovery period is? I've got a game booked for Monday and one for Thursday, then one for Monday week. I won't risk it if I don't feel comfortable, but it would be useful to let the badminton partners have as much time as possible to get someone else to stand in.
Am resting today at home, and over the weekend, FWIW.
As someone who's sprained both ankles about 10 times each, I have a good idea how long this takes... OTOH given I keep doing it and had to retire myself from footy, my advice may be all bad!
Depends on if it was an Eversion or Inversion. And on how bad it is - is your whole foot swollen up and purple with blood? Or is there only just a bit of a bump? Ligaments never fully recover so the ankle will always be weaker.
2 weeks before you should be walking normally. 4 weeks before playing sport competitively. Badminton will involve a lot of twisting and direction change. I'd resprain my ankles in 5 minutes if I came back too soon.
Depends on if it was an Eversion or Inversion. And on how bad it is - is your whole foot swollen up and purple with blood? Or is there only just a bit of a bump? Ligaments never fully recover so the ankle will always be weaker.
2 weeks before you should be walking normally. 4 weeks before playing sport competitively. Badminton will involve a lot of twisting and direction change. I'd resprain my ankles in 5 minutes if I came back too soon.
Thanks for sharing your... well... expertise! 
Will definitely cancel the next few weeks' games.
Mine was the type where you go over on the outside of your foot. So far there's no bruising, just moderate swelling around the outside of the foot. I can walk (slowly and klunkily) but flexing is a no-go.
Will definitely cancel the next few weeks' games. Mine was the type where you go over on the outside of your foot. So far there's no bruising, just moderate swelling around the outside of the foot. I can walk (slowly and klunkily) but flexing is a no-go.
If you believe this video then don't ice it and keep it mobile
http://www.mobilitywod.com/2012/08/people-weve-got...
http://www.mobilitywod.com/2012/08/people-weve-got...
Whatever you do, make sure you keep it moving and rehab it properly
It's nearly two years since I first did mine and it's still an issue because I didn't rehab it properly. Never regained strength and did it again but an eversion sprain and ended up needing an arthroscopy
You don't realise but you start walking differently, stop using certain muscles on the affected leg and putting excess pressure on certain areas of the other leg. I lost a lot of muscles mass in my calf and believe I've ended up with chondromalacia in the other knee because of it. Also can't play football for more than 5 minutes without having shooting pain up both shins
I'm now following a proper program to restore strength in all my leg muscles as well as trying to get some flexibility back. Only been doing it a few days but noticed some quick progress but I am devoting pretty much all my spare time to it. Probably going to take atleast another six weeks to get to the point where I can run and play football pain free which will make it 2 years since the first injury. Don't make the same mistakes I did.
It's nearly two years since I first did mine and it's still an issue because I didn't rehab it properly. Never regained strength and did it again but an eversion sprain and ended up needing an arthroscopy
You don't realise but you start walking differently, stop using certain muscles on the affected leg and putting excess pressure on certain areas of the other leg. I lost a lot of muscles mass in my calf and believe I've ended up with chondromalacia in the other knee because of it. Also can't play football for more than 5 minutes without having shooting pain up both shins
I'm now following a proper program to restore strength in all my leg muscles as well as trying to get some flexibility back. Only been doing it a few days but noticed some quick progress but I am devoting pretty much all my spare time to it. Probably going to take atleast another six weeks to get to the point where I can run and play football pain free which will make it 2 years since the first injury. Don't make the same mistakes I did.
I did my ankle playing ball (20stone of weight + landing on it = destroyed)
I follwed the HEM technique which is basically heat, massage and exercise from day 1 - ankle is now (touch wood) in good shape...although I now wont play ball unless I have my anti roll shoes on (Nikes for driving to the game only!)
I follwed the HEM technique which is basically heat, massage and exercise from day 1 - ankle is now (touch wood) in good shape...although I now wont play ball unless I have my anti roll shoes on (Nikes for driving to the game only!)
Thanks all for the extra info and advice. It's slowly recovering and today I can walk up and down stairs properly. For the last few days, going up was easy (using alternate stairs), but going down was only possible one at a time and leading only with the injured foot.
Have also been doing some of that simple therapy stuff - drawing out letter shapes with big toe, etc.
Have cancelled all badminton until January.
Have also been doing some of that simple therapy stuff - drawing out letter shapes with big toe, etc.
Have cancelled all badminton until January.
My missus went over on her ankle teaching Body Combat; tiny bone chip also through it. With icing once a night, wearing an ankle support and plenty of rest she was back to teaching in 3 months. The recovery is vital so take all the time you need to ensure a good repair otherwise you're leaving your ankle open to further injury. 2 days after accident with swelling drastically reduced:
Edited by PD9 on Wednesday 13th November 22:37
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