How to Care for a Sprained Ankle

Orthopaedic foot and ankle MDs explain treatment for common injury

ROSEMONT, Ill., Aug. 2, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- 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.

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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.

About the AOFAS
The AOFAS promotes quality, ethical and cost-effective patient care through the education, research and training of orthopaedic surgeons and other health care providers. The Society creates public awareness for the prevention and treatment of foot and ankle disorders, provides leadership, and serves as a resource for government and industry as well as the national and international health care communities.​

About Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Surgeons
Orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeons are medical doctors (MD and DO) who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders and injuries of the foot and ankle. Orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeons use medical, physical and rehabilitative methods as well as surgery to treat patients of all ages. Relying on four years of medical school training, five years of post-graduate training and often a fellowship in foot and ankle care, orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeons perform reconstructive procedures, treat sports injuries, and manage and treat trauma of the foot and ankle.

Contact:
Jennifer Hicks
Public Education Manager
Office: 847-384-4379
jhicks@aofas.org

SOURCE American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society