How to Help Your Child Recover Quickly From an Ankle Sprain
Although ankle sprains can be painful and have a long recovery time, there are many ways to help your child recover quickly. Some of the methods you can use are manual therapy and exercise. Getting proper medical attention quickly from the highly skilled Pediatric Orthopedics at POBAR in Brandon and Tampa, will help your child recover quickly and completely.
Ankle sprains are one of the most common injuries in young children and especially athletic children. The good news is that, with the right orthopedic treatment, most children can recover quickly and return to their previous level of activity.
The first step in helping your child recover from an ankle sprain is to seek medical attention. Your child’s doctor will be able to assess the severity of the injury and recommend the best course of treatment.
How Do Ankle Sprains Occur?
Ankle sprains occur when the ligaments that connect the bones in the ankle joint stretch too far or tear. This can happen if your child twists their ankle or falls onto it.
What Are The Symptoms Of Ankle Sprains?
Common symptoms of a sprained ankle include:
Swelling
Bruising
Pain
Difficulty standing or walking
A popping or tearing sensation when the injury occurs.
If your child is exhibiting any of these symptoms, seek medical attention and treat the injury as soon as possible. The longer the injury is left untreated, the longer the recovery process may take.
How To Treat An Ankle Sprain At Home?
Once your child has been seen by a doctor, there are a few things you can do at home to help the healing process along. These include:
- Applying ice to the affected area for 20 minutes at a time, several times a day
- Keeping the affected area elevated
- Giving your child over-the-counter pain medication to help relieve any discomfort
With the proper treatment, most children will recover from an ankle sprain within a few weeks. However, it is important to avoid re-injury during the healing process. Be sure to talk to your child’s doctor about when it is safe to return to physical activity.
An ankle sprain can be treated with the RICE method (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) to help speed up the healing process.
1. Rest: Have your child stay off the ankle as much as possible to reduce swelling and pain. This can be done by using crutches but should be monitored closely as the child can easily exaggerate the injury.
2. Ice: Place a cold compress or ice pack on the ankle for 15-20 minutes several times a day, ensuring there is a barrier between the ice pack and your child’s skin.
3. Compression: Wrap the ankle with an elastic bandage or an ACE wrap to reduce swelling.
4. Elevation: Have your child elevate their ankle above the heart level several times a day to reduce swelling.
These simple steps can help reduce pain and inflammation, enabling your child to get back on their feet faster.
When To See a Doctor For Your Child’s Ankle Sprain?
It is important to seek medical help if you have any doubts regarding the severity of your child's ankle sprain. Seeing a doctor is especially important if they experience:
- Severe pain that doesn’t subside after the RICE method is applied
- Significant swelling
- Inability to stand or bear even minimal weight
- Significant bruising or discoloration
- Deformity or offset of the ankle joint
- Pain that radiates down the leg
Seeing an orthopedic doctor who specializes in ankle sprains can help diagnose the sprain accurately and create a comprehensive treatment plan. There may also be a need for further imaging tests such as an X-ray or an MRI to detect possible fractures or other injuries.
It is better to err on the side of caution if you suspect your child has a severe ankle sprain. An orthopedic doctor is best positioned to decide the best course of treatment and the timeline for healing.
Tips For Preventing Ankle Sprains in the Future
Once your child has been seen by a doctor, there are a few things you can do at home to help the healing process along. These include:
- Applying ice to the affected area for 20 minutes at a time, several times a day
- Keeping the affected area elevated
- Giving your child over-the-counter pain medication to help relieve any discomfort
With the proper treatment, most children will recover from an ankle sprain within a few weeks. However, it is important to avoid re-injury during the healing process. Be sure to talk to your child’s doctor about when it is safe to return to physical activity.
Ankle sprains can be very painful and can take a long time to heal. Precaution is always better than cure, and it is better to take steps to prevent ankle sprains from occurring in the first place. Here are a few tips that parents can follow to reduce the risk of ankle sprain for their children:
1. Make sure your kids wear the right type and size of shoes for their activities. Make sure their shoes give their feet the appropriate support and cushioning.
2. Make sure your child warms up before any physical activity. This increases flexibility and reduces the risk of muscle and joint strain, including ankle sprains.
3. Encourage your child to practice good balance and coordination while doing physical activities.
4. Encourage the use of ankle braces during all physical activities. Ankle braces provide extra support and stability to the ankle joint.
5. Make sure your child takes extra caution while playing on uneven terrain or slippery surfaces.
Preventing ankle sprains is important, as prevention is better than cure. As parents, you can take steps to reduce the risk of ankle sprains for your children by:
Ensuring proper foot support
Adequate warm-up before physical activities
Good balance and coordination
Use of ankle braces during physical activities
Caution while playing on uneven terrain and slippery surfaces.
By following these steps, you can reduce the chances of your child experiencing an ankle sprain and help them live an active and healthy life.
For A Detailed Treatment Plan For Ankle Sprains, Speak to Our Leading Pediatric Orthopedic Doctors in Brandon and Tampa, Florida.
We’re a friendly pediatric team based in Brandon and Tampa, Florida, and we’re pros at dealing with ankle sprains. If your child has a sprain and needs to see a medical professional, get in touch with us.
At POBAR, we take your child’s health seriously and offer an incredibly high standard of care and knowledge. Ready to speak to one of our caring doctors?