Myth #1 - It should take 4-8 weeks to fully heal a sprained ankle

First of all, the idea that it should take many weeks or even months to heal a sprained ankle is absurd. It is ridiculous. The only reason it takes that long is because you are doing the wrong things. Don't worry, you are not alone. Almost everyone is taking the slowest and worst road possible to a good ankle recovery. But, to put it simply, for most twists and sprains, you can be out of pain and walking normally again in about a week. For more severe sprains, it can take about 2 weeks. But, this requires you to use the right kind of ankle treatment.

Myth #2 - Rest and Ice are the best treatments for a sprained ankle

Here is a simple fact: ice on a sprained ankle is effective for 36-48 hours. After this time, the ice is no longer effective. This is simply a clinical fact. So, why does everyone keep icing their ankles for weeks and months? Unfortunately, it is just ignorance. Someone told them to do it and so they did it. That doesn't mean it is the most effective treatment. For example, there are active techniques like Hydrotherapy and massage that help far more than mere ice. For more on that, click here...

Unlike ice, rest is good for longer than 2 days. But, pure rest is not good for your ankle. Depending on the severity of your injury, you may need to rest it more than others. But, again, the fact is that ankle injuries respond best to movement, stretching and exercise. This kind of active rehab is absolutely essential for proper healing of the ankle joint and ligaments.

In fact, the best approach is to do is an active healing treatment. In other words, you don't just sit there for months in bed and not do anything. That is now considered outdated and ineffective in professional circles. It does nothing to deal with inflammation, scar tissue and general weakness and inflexibility in the ankles.

But, doing any old stretch and random exercise is not going to get it done. There are specific stretches and exercises that have shown to be the most effective kind of treatment.