Scary Mommy interviewed Dr. Reena Patel to provide in-depth medical insights on how to treat ankle sprains. Dr. Patel is a board-certified family medicine physician practicing in Orange County, New York. 

Ankle sprains can happen to people of any age, including children. This makes sense: children spend a lot of time playing, while occasionally dabbling in roughness and circus. Although it's great for them to move around (and deplete their seemingly endless energy reserves), sometimes these activities can cause them injuries-including ankle injuries. Of course, they will tell you it hurts, but how do you know how serious it is? Is it a broken bone or just a sprain? What should I do if it is distorted? How is the ankle twisted? Here is what you need to know about how to treat an ankle sprain, including the RICE method and doctor-approved exercise methods.

The first thing to do is: let us make sure that the ankle is injured. Dr. Reena Patel, a board-certified family medicine physician practicing in Orange County, New York, broke down the following for us:

Treating a sprained ankle is a process. Although we would love to tell you that there is a way to heal a sprained ankle in two days, this is not how it works. (If an ankle injury does heal quickly, then it is likely that it was actually twisted rather than sprained.)

In short, this process involves the RICE method. According to the Mayo Clinic, "RICE" stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation, and serves as a basic instruction for treating ankle sprains:

"RICE is great; I always recommend it when X-rays prove that there is no problem with the bones," Patel explained. "Rest, ice, compression, and elevation go a long way." If you are still dealing with pain and/or swelling, she recommends that you take over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs, such as NSAIDs-that is, combined with rice treatment.

Sleeping with a sprained ankle can be difficult. Patel said that the use of over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to control pain is the most important (although ibuprofen is preferable because it helps reduce inflammation). "Also, if you can raise [ankle] to cover the'elevation' part of RICE treatment, that would be great," she added. "Putting a pillow under [ankle] or raising the front of the bed will help reduce fluid accumulation in the ankle-that is, swelling. It is also recommended to apply ice before going to bed or before a nap to relieve discomfort."

The best way to prevent future ankle injuries is to increase their strength and stability. This can be done through rehabilitation exercises after an ankle sprain. Here are some examples:

Patel explained that as with most injuries, the healing time of a swollen sprained ankle varies from person to person, depending on factors such as the type and severity of the injury. "Generally speaking, we are thinking about one to four weeks," she elaborated. "Remember [that] more serious ankle sprains are sometimes harder to heal than fractures. I have seen this happen, and it may take several months, requiring physical therapy. This is not common."

Because a sprain is a less serious injury, the recovery time of a sprained ankle is usually about a week, but Patel emphasizes again that it depends on the individual and the degree of the injury.

There are millions of ways to sprain an ankle, but sometimes you will encounter ordinary bad luck. Here are some common situations that might leave you on crutches.

Vitamin C not only helps to strengthen the immune system and strengthen the bones, but also greatly helps in the repair of ligaments. Vitamin C is the key to collagen production and is usually recommended after injury. It also promotes healing and tissue repair.

Foods rich in protein can also help your body repair tissues and muscles. If you are injured, a protein diet can help relieve inflammation. You can incorporate this supplement into your body by eating meat, fish, tofu, beans or nuts. Zinc is also rich in tissue and wound healing enzymes and proteins. You can find this supplement in meat, seafood, and whole grains.

If you want to start jogging after a sprain, it is important to treat your ankle properly. There are many ways to strengthen this part of the body and avoid further injury. Here are some tips for increasing ankle strength.

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