How to Soak a Sprained Ankle

Suffering from a sprained ankle is very painful, and trying to get comfortable with one can be quite the task. To help relive some pain, the ankle can be soaked in warm water. Alternating between warm and cold water will help the ankle heal and give the sufferer some comfort.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Two buckets
• Warm water
• Cool water
• Ice cubes
• Pillows

1. Pour warm, not hot, water into one bucket.

2. Pour cool water into another bucket, then dump 15 ice cubes into the second bucket.

3. Place the sprained ankle into the warm water and soak the ankle for up to 15 minutes.

4. Stretch the sprained ankle for 30 seconds, gently rotating the ankle in a circular Don't push yourself--if there's too much pain, stop immediately.

5. Place the sprained ankle in the bucket with cold water and soak the ankle for ten minutes.

6. Elevate the ankle using pillows for one hour. Repeat these steps once more before going to bed. Repeat this process for one week. If after a week the pain and swelling persist, seek medical attention.

Tips & Warnings

• As with all sprains, seek medical attention to make sure the sprain is not a fracture.

References

• Utah Mountain Biking