Ankle Sprains for Runners?

     Training for the upcoming track season, I managed to completely injure myself with something that has nothing to do with running. In my morning weight lifting class, I was simply doing the exercises (jumping over boxes) when all of the sudden I was on the ground, a pain I hadn't quite experienced. Next thing I know, people are starring at me, a few jaws slightly dropped, and that's when I knew I had messed up. Suddenly I realized my ankle hurt, and I became instantly panicked.
     Having never experienced an ankle injury I was more scared than anything. The pain was by far not the worst pain I had experienced but it was defiantly enough to worry myself. Too scared to look down and see what the damage was, the weight lifting coach came over and took me to the trainers room, where I iced myself for the rest of the hour.
     After swelling, popped blood vessels, some artistic bruising, my sprained ankle seemed to be doing okay. So what is a sprained ankle anyways? It's the tearing of ligaments in the ankle. If you're like me you probably think that it sounds scary. You're right, it is, but you're a runner, and nothing can stop you!
     Lucky for me, track started yesterday and I was able to run on it, despite it being sprained! Here's how: for the four days I had until the beginning of track, I stayed off my feet for as much as possible. Along with that, I accumulated an air splint and an ankle brace to help ensure some stability.
     I cannot praise enough the importance and wonders of icing. I'm pretty sure that the reason my swelling went down so quickly was because I iced so often. Create a mini ice bath for your ankle that you can put your entire foot in up to your mid shin in order to target your entire ankle, and all the surrounding parts.
     Don't forget to elevate your foot too (the one that's injured). I didn't find this one as important and keeping my weight off of it and icing, but my trainer and others encourage it to me, so you may as well give it a go!
     Along with taking care and tending to your injury, don't forget to strengthen it to prevent another injury from happening. (plus, who couldn't benefit from getting just a little stronger?!) (401)