Dr. Timothy Young, board certified foot surgeon discusses maximal recovery after an ankle sprain  

How does a runner know when they’re fully recovered from an ankle injury? 

Ankle sprains often in result in total or partial tearing of the ankle ligaments. 

Most commonly this is the anterior talofibular ligament or ATF ligament. 

For third degree sprain remaining off the ankle for 3-4 weeks is ideal.  What about after that timeframe. Wearing a brace initially to protect the ankle from repeat injury is helpful and physical therapy can be helpful.  Other rehabilitation options include using a stationary bike or aqua jogging.  Balancing exercises or proprioceptive exercises are also helpful. 

But when do you know when you can return to running such as trail running 

Sometimes it is knowing when you have a confidence than your ankle will hold up over uneven terrain.  A very good benchmark for knowing when you can return to running and especially trail running, is when you can run up and downstairs without grabbing the handrail.  Your body unconsciously is giving you a " go ahead". This is a crude but actually very accurate indicator of when you have adequate strength and recovery in the ankle and confidence in your proprioceptive - balance reflex. 

If you are experiencing foot or ankle pain, give us a call today at 425-391-8666 or make an appointment online today.