An ankle sprain is a considerably common foot or joint injury. You may just be walking and accidentally stepping on a stone or trying to kick a ball with your foot at a wrong angle, and this can injure the ankle.
The ankle is composed of tendons, ligaments, and muscles. It is a joint that connects the foot to the lower leg. All these elements make the ankle considerably strong. As per sports-health on All About Ankle Sprains and Strains that “The ankle sustains 1.5 times the body’s weight in impact with every walking step, and up to 8 times the body’s weight with each step when running or jumping.”
If you are, of course, involved in strenuous activities such as sports or high impact workouts, there’s a higher risk for an ankle trauma. Any miscalculated step can potentially cause harm to the ankle bone. The scenario can be worse if an individual is battling excessive weight, an elderly, and even a pregnant woman.
1. Ankle Compression and Home Treatments
When you injure your ankle, it is imperative that you immediately apply the emergency treatment. If it’s a significant injury such as fractures or severed ligaments, directly go to the hospital. If it’s a minor injury such as a sprain or strain, you can do these home care treatments:
Rest – as much as possible, avoid being on your feet, especially within the next 24 to 48 hours. This is a crucial time to rest to prevent further damage to the ankle.
Ice – helps to reduce bruising, muscle spasms, and swelling. Put ice on a damp towel before applying it to the ankle. Do this every two to four hours for 10 to 20 minutes for three consecutive days.
Compression – the pressure must be applied to stabilize the joints and ligaments. Wearing compression socks for ankle sprains at night is also recommended for the first two days of injury.
Elevate – keeping your injured foot elevated will help to remove the stress away from it.
2. Pressure Levels of Compression Socks
When it comes to using compression socks, different levels of tension have to be considered. Tightest doesn’t mean it is more beneficial to your condition or faster healing. Compression socks reinforce muscle pressure to the tissues and blood vessels, and if the pressure is too much, it can disrupt the blood flow and may aggravate the injury,
Pressure Levels
Lighter pressure compression socks are suitable for ankle sprains and strains, running, and activities that need comfortable support at the lower extremities. If you need a higher tension, it would be best to talk with a medical professional to assess your condition.
3. How Long Should You Keep Compression on a Sprained Ankle
Compression is very crucial in the first 48 hours of an injury. But keep in mind that the pressure does not need to be too tight. The right amount of pressure should work well for the sprain.
Another question that needs to be answered is if sprained ankle compression overnight is safe? You can’t immediately assume that there will be no complications if you do this, especially if you are wearing medicated compression socks.
While it is ideal for wearing compression socks, keeping them on all night long isn’t necessary. Although if you prefer to sleep with ankle compression to relieve you of pain, it would be best to use elastic bandages for a more subdued tightness.
There are no terrible side effects when you sleep with ankle compression. The only thing that is being avoided in this instance is that it may hamper blood circulation while sleeping, which may cause more swelling in the morning. But as mentioned, you may wear compression socks if needed or opt to use elastic bandages for a more repressed pressure.
4. In Summary
Understanding what treatments and remedies you can apply to an injury are crucial, especially when it comes to your feet. It is also imperative that you take specific measures to prevent yourself from injuries.
Lastly, if your sprain does not improve after a few days and you feel that it’s getting worse, immediately schedule yourself for a doctor’s appointment to have you checked. It is always better to be safe than sorry, so do what is needed.
Unisex
8-15 mmHg