An ankle sprain can feel fine within a week and then roll again a month later. If you have sprained the same ankle more than once, or if you have lost confidence in the joint during sport, on uneven ground, or landing from a box jump, the initial injury healed but the stability did not come back with it.
How we approach ankle sprains
Most people treat an ankle sprain with rest, ice, compression, and elevation, then return to activity once the swelling goes down. That manages the acute injury, but it does not rebuild the balance, proprioception, and strength the ankle needs to handle unpredictable loads. We assess ankle stability, range of motion, and how the foot and lower leg absorb force during single-leg tasks. If your ankle keeps giving way, there is a reason, and it is addressable.
What treatment looks like
Treatment focuses on rebuilding what the sprain took away: proprioception (the ankle’s ability to sense its position), lateral stability, and progressive strengthening through functional movements. We start with balance and control work, progress to dynamic stability drills, and build toward sport-specific movements that challenge the ankle in the directions it needs to handle. For athletes, the return-to-sport phase includes reactive drills that test the ankle under fatigue and unpredictability.
Who can help
Any of our physiotherapists can assess and treat ankle sprains. If foot and ankle biomechanics are part of the picture, Ivan Tam has a specific focus in lower limb mechanics and ankle rehabilitation. If your ankle sprain happened during a contact sport, Daniel Ng can manage the acute phase and build a return-to-sport plan around the demands of your discipline.