Prognosis
In the case of a simple sprain without accompanying injuries such as fractures, the prognosis is very good and healing of the stretched ligaments usually takes only one to two weeks. However, the period of time until the foot is fully able to bear weight is considerably longer, since after healing has taken place, the foot should only gradually begin to bear weight again and this should only be increased slowly.In most cases, however, three months later the ankle joint is fully resilient again.
Prophylaxis
An important aspect of the prevention of foot sprains is a strong muscular apparatus of the leg, which additionally supports the joint stabilizing function of the ligamentous apparatus. Also prophylactically, it is recommended to warm up before sporting activity, i.e. on the one hand stretching the strained muscles and ligaments, on the other hand only slowly increasing the intensity of the strain. In addition, coordination exercises designed to train the sense of balance help to prevent falls that could potentially lead to a sprained foot.
The risk of the foot buckling can also be reduced by wearing shoes that go beyond the ankle, and forces that arise from buckling can be absorbed well by these shoes. This is especially important for sports activities such as hiking, where you can quickly buckle on uneven ground, and also for basketball. In addition, athletes who have had frequent sprains of the foot in their history use stabilizing bandages to prevent further sprains of the foot.
