Sprained ankle – when to see a podiatrist

By Adrian Bianco|2025-02-19T11:27:21+00:00February 19th, 2025|

An ankle sprain is one of the most common injuries we see as podiatrists. They can vary in severity from mild, which requires mostly short-term treatment, to severe which in some cases can take 3+ months to resolve.

Whilst minor sprains may settle with rest within a few days to a week or so, this article will explore when you should seek professional assessment from a podiatrist.

How do ankle sprains occur?

An ankle sprain occurs when the ligaments in the ankle stretch or tear due to twisting or rolling of the foot, causing pain, swelling, and difficulty moving the joint. This can occur simply when missing a step or walking on uneven pathways but often happens while active, for example, when playing sports with lots of changing of directions, walking, running and jumping/landing.

When to see a podiatrist for an ankle sprain?

You should see a podiatrist when you notice any of the following after a possible ankle sprain:

Severe pain that makes it difficult to weightbear
Instability when weightbearing
Notable swelling and bruising
Pain at rest and when non-weightbearing
Minor sprain not improving after a few days
If unsure about severity of injury
Numbness, tingling or other neurological symptoms
If a concerned of a fracture

Ankle sprain assessment

Assessment of ankle sprains by a podiatrist involves a physical and visual examination of the sprained ankle, such as pain levels, range of motion and ability to weightbear.

In some cases, imaging such as MRI or ultrasound is required to help determine the grade of the injury. X-rays are also useful in determining if there is a fracture or other injury present.

Grades of ankle sprains:

Grade I (Mild): Mild stretching or minor tearing of the ligament
Grade II (Moderate): Partial tearing of the ligament
Grade III (Severe): Complete rupture of the ligament

The grading of an ankle sprain can help determine the recovery time and the best treatment plan.

Ankle Sprain Treatment

Ankle sprain treatment will depend on each individual presentation. Generally speaking, the earlier you can mobilise the ankle and begin to put weight through it the speedier and better the recovery. However, this is pain and severity dependant (i.e. a fracture will require more time off the foot). Treatment of ankle sprains by a podiatrist can include:

Ankle bracing
Elevation and icing (to initially help reduce swelling and pain)
Rehabilitation
- range of motion exercises/stretches
- strengthening programs
- proprioceptive exercises
Stabilising taping
Footwear advice
Orthotics
CAM walker (moonboot)

Why see one of our Melbourne Podiatrists for an ankle sprain?

In addition to ankle sprain treatment our Melbourne podiatrists can also provide gait and running assessments which can help identify risk factors to help recovery and reduce the risk of ankle sprains. We can also provide footwear and other advice to help prevent ankle sprains recurring again in the future.

Ankle sprains often have a really good recovery rate. This is provided you have it assessed as soon as possible and the appropriate management and rehabilitation plan is implemented. Seeing one of our Melbourne podiatrists early can get you back on your feet (yes, pun intended) as quickly as possible and help prevent future repeat injuries.