[Icey21]

So i am really bugged right now i have really messed up my left ankle yesterday. How does everyone else keep from getting hurt, and when and if you do how do you heal faster. Or what do you do?

[mammasita]

Well, first off - how did you hurt your ankle? If you were exercising, the best thing to do is make sure you stretch properly.

Not sure how to promote healing though. Feel better soon!

[ennay]

how messed up is messed up

1st 24 hours, rest, ice, compression, elevation.

If it is visibly purple or swollen after 24 hours it is worth a dr. visit - higher grade sprains heal faster with a brace sometimes.

Low grade stuff just find exercise that does not irritate. Higher grade stuff requires some time off and a slower return.

As for preventing injury? Last year I fell down some concrete steps, and healed just in time to get in a car wreck. Beats the heck out of me.

MTA: stretching in general will not help prevent ankle injuries. Unless by ankle you mean achilles. In which case if it is injured now, DO NOT STRETCH. Never ever stretch a pull or strain without PT direction you can take a damaged muscle or tendon and turn it into a surgical problem.

[JohnP]

Injuries happen for a large number of reasons.

As for getting better assuming you don't need medical assistance the general formula is to rest, elevation, and ice.

[bargoo]

Accidents happen in the strangest of ways, the other day I fell getting into an elevator, fell flat on my face resulting in a black eye. What do I do about it ? Wait for it to go away. I should have put an ice pack on it but didn't .

[Raven132]

I don't wear shoes. Since I stopped wearing shoes (flip flops when I go out or it's really muddy) I have not so much as turned my ankle. It seems like tennis shoes are all out to get me, giving me terrible knee, hip, and ankle problems.

[Icey21]

Well when i was working out i rolled my right ankle at the same time i rolled my left ankle. The right ankle is fine because i roll that one all the time and it is like that from when i broke it in the 6th grade. My left ankle is a little swollen. I have kept it wrapped and i put ice on it. It seems to be really tight. =(

[DrivenByAmbition]

Keep ice on it and keep it elevated. The pain should go away in a few days.

[stillwagontsl]

A foot doctor told me that in order to prevent strained ankles, I needed to strengthen the inner muscles/tendons around the joint. He said the best way to do that is to stand in a doorway and balance on one foot at a time by lifting the opposite foot off the floor. The muscles around your ankle will get stronger the more you do this. The doorway is there if you need to 'catch' yourself. Now, I find myself standing on one foot if I'm waiting in line at the grocery store or standing at the sink doing dishes. It really does help.

[Icey21]

Originally Posted by stillwagontsl

A foot doctor told me that in order to prevent strained ankles, I needed to strengthen the inner muscles/tendons around the joint. He said the best way to do that is to stand in a doorway and balance on one foot at a time by lifting the opposite foot off the floor. The muscles around your ankle will get stronger the more you do this. The doorway is there if you need to 'catch' yourself. Now, I find myself standing on one foot if I'm waiting in line at the grocery store or standing at the sink doing dishes. It really does help.

I will have to give that a try because my right one is so weak that when do roll it, it does not even hurt anymore. Thanks you so much!