Your Child Sprained Their Ankle — Now What?
An Ankle Sprain Is More Than “Just a Sprain”
If your child sprains their ankle, it’s easy to think:
“They will be fine in a few days.”
Maybe they will. But sometimes an ankle can feel better before it is actually ready for the demands of sports.
An ankle sprain can affect balance, strength, movement, and confidence. And because the ankle is connected to the rest of the leg, those changes can affect how the knee and hip move, too.
That’s why simply waiting for the pain to go away isn’t always enough.
Why does this matter?
When an ankle is weak or unstable, an athlete may start moving differently without even realizing it.
They may:
Land more stiffly
Have trouble balancing on one leg
Avoid putting weight through the injured side
Have difficulty slowing down or changing direction
Rely more on their knee or hip to compensate
For an athlete who is running, jumping, cutting, and landing over and over again, those small changes matter.
And unfortunately, many athletes never complete the rehabilitation they need after an ankle sprain.
Feeling better doesn’t always mean being ready to play.
5 Things Every Parent Should Know About Ankle Sprains
Don’t completely shut down movement
Early on, the priorities are protecting the ankle, controlling swelling, and keeping pain under control.
That might mean bracing or taping, icing as needed, and elevating the leg, and temporarily modifying activity.
But complete rest for an extended period isn’t usually the goal.
As pain allows, athletes should gradually get back to walking and moving the ankle.
Get the strength and mobility back
Once they can move without significant pain, rehabilitation should focus on getting the ankle moving normally and rebuilding strength.
And don’t stop just because they can walk around the house or go up and down stairs.
Sports are much harder on the ankle than everyday activities.
Don ‘t skip balance training
This is one of the biggest pieces athletes often miss.
After an ankle sprain, an athlete can lose some of the balance and awareness that help the ankle react quickly.
Physical therapy can help rebuild this with exercises like:
Single-leg balance
Strength exercises
Landing drills
Jumping and hopping
Coordination and control exercises
Make sure they are ready for their sport
Being able to jog in a straight line doesn’t necessarily mean they are ready for soccer, basketball, lacrosse, volleyball, or another sport.
Before returning to full competition, they should gradually work back into the movements their sport requires:
Running → jumping → landing → accelerating → stopping → cutting → reacting
The goal is to make sure the ankle can handle the demands of the sport before they are thrown back into competition.
Don’t use the calendar as the test
One of the most common questions parents ask is:
“How long until they can play again?”
There isn’t always one perfect number.
Instead of asking only how many days it’s been, ask:
Is there still pain or swelling?
Is their ankle moving normally?
Have they regained their strength?
Can they balance confidently on that leg?
Can they jump and land with good control?
Can they run, stop, and change direction?
Do they trust the ankle?
Can they perform their sport-specific movements without pain or instability?
The Goal Isn’t Just to Get Them Back
The goal is to get them back ready.
Returning to practice because the ankle “feels okay” is different from completing a progression that prepares the ankle for the demands of competition.
A few weeks of appropriate rehabilitation may feel like a long time when your athlete wants to get back on the field.
But the goal of physical therapy isn’t to keep them out of sports.
It’s to help them get back safely, confidently, and prepared for what comes next.
Parents: Don’t Ignore the Ankle Sprain.
If your athlete has an ankle sprain, don’t just ask:
“When can they play again?”
Also ask:
“What do they need to do before they are ready?”
That’s where a good rehabilitation program can make a difference.
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