Orthopaedic foot, ankle MDs explain treatment for common injury

Ankle sprains in sports happen all the time. In late July, players from the Cincinnati Reds, the Denver Broncos and the Jacksonville Jaguars all suffered ankle sprains while playing or practicing.

But it's not just athletes who sprain ankles. More than 25,000 people sprain an ankle every day, which means nearly everyone experiences an injury like this at some point in their lives.

Sprained ankle care starts with rest, ice, compression and elevation, say members of the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS), an organization dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of the musculoskeletal system of the foot and ankle. For more severe sprains, you may need to immobilize the ankle, say AOFAS members.

For more details on treatment and getting back to full functioning after an ankle sprain, visit the How to Care for a Sprained Ankle page at FootCareMD, the patient education website of the AOFAS. The FootCareMD site is undergoing an extensive updating process with new treatment articles coming online each month. Check back often for new information on conditions and surgical procedures, all explained in detail by orthopaedic foot and ankle MDs.