Ankle sprains are a common sports injury which sidelines the athlete for weeks or possibly months. The recovery time for an ankle sprain depends on the severity of the injury. Often times an ankle sprain is more debilitating than an actual fracture. 

There are 3 sets of ligaments in the ankle. Grade-III ankle sprains involve all 3 ligaments, Grade-II ankle sprains involve 2 of the three ligaments, and Grade-I ankle sprains involve 1 of the ligaments. A Grade-III ankle sprain can take up to three months to make a full recover. A Grade-II ankle sprain can take up to 6 weeks for a full recovery. A Grade-I ankle sprain can take 2-3 weeks for full recovery. 

There are four initial steps to treat an ankle sprain once it occurs. By applying the RICE method, ankle swelling can be kept to a minimum and time back to sports can be shortened. This technique involves rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Once the injury occurs, the athlete should be removed from competition. If an athlete is able to jump up and down on his leg 10 times then he can return back to sports. However, most ankle sprains prevent athletes from jumping up and down on their ankle. 

Ice should be applied to the skin area for a 15 minute interval and then off for at least 15 minutes. Ice applied longer than 15 minutes can cause damage to the skin and underlying nerves. Compression to the ankle can be applied in the form of an ACE wrap. However, the ACE wrap should not be so tight as to constrict blood flow to the foot and ankle. 

Elevation of the ankle joint means that the ankle has to be higher than the level of the heart. In order to achieve this, the athlete must lie flat and have his foot elevated up on at least 2 pillows so that elevation is at least 12 inches above the level of the heart. 

Ankle sprains can be a recurrent problem. They do not always return to their original strength after an injury. For athletes with recurrent ankle sprains, wearing an ankle brace can provide stability and allow them to return to sports without injuring their ankle further. 

To prevent ankle sprains and to strengthen the ankle after an injury has occurred, there are several exercises that the athlete can do. These exercises are illustrated below. If the athlete continues to suffer from recurrent ankle sprains then medical attention should be sought.