The pain of a sprained ankle is hard to describe. You can’t use your foot, so it’s nice that the water supports and pulls your body along. It feels like the water is massaging your sore muscles as you swim laps; it helps with the pain. But when you get out of the pool, though, it all comes back in an instant and leaves yourself hobbling on one foot. The worst part about swimming with a sprained ankle? Knowing that this injury will only get worse if you don’t take care of the sprain!
It’s not the best idea to get in a pool with a sprained ankle. But if you’re determined, there are some things that can help you stay afloat and make your time in the water more enjoyable.
Inform the lifeguard
The lifeguard is the first line of defense against drowning and other dangerous situations. They are responsible for keeping an eye on the pool, calling swimmers out of the water when they’re at risk, and managing any emergencies that may happen. It’s important that if you notice a potential issue with a swimmer or something going wrong in the pool-that you let them know so they can do their job to keep everyone safe.
Swim with an ankle brace
But not any ankle brace, look for neoprene ankle brace. Neoprene ankle brace is water resistant and should be used specifically for swimming.
They are designed to help support your ankle with a sprain injury. Ankle braces come in many different styles- some of them wrap around the foot and others just go under the foot. However, they all provide stability for injured ankles by absorbing shock from movement.
Don’t swim in deep water
When you are at the pool and you happen to have a sprained ankle, it is important not to swim in deep water. When your injured leg is submerged in water, your muscles will be relaxed while the opposing side of your body (your uninjured leg) contracts. This can lead to more damage on an injury that has already been set back with time away from activity including swimming or walking.
It’s a common misconception that you should not swim with your injured body parts, especially if you’re on vacation and can’t get to the doctor.
To be clear: swimming is just fine for sprains, but only in shallow water! You should never go deep-water diving with an injury like a sprained ankle.
Use a kickboard to help you stay afloat
It’s hard enough to keep afloat with two functioning feet, let alone one. But don’t give up just yet! There is a way you can still swim with a sprained ankle – the kickboard. By using the kickboard and letting it doing as much work in the water as possible, you will not only save yourself from drowning should you lose balance but also help ease your pain by preventing weight bearing on the injured joint.
Use the front crawl but take it easy
Forget the breast stroke or the butterfly. When you have a sprained ankle, always use the front crawl, but to an extend.
First, you have to minimize you kick and keep your legs together. Second, swim slowly. The slower you get, the more attention you will pay to your movement. If you notice an increase of pain in your ankle, you will have to stop immediately.
You can always do water treading
Remember, just being in the water can improve your blood flow. And never underesitimate water treading. Done correctly, water treading can be as much labor intensive as a breastroke or front crawl.
Avoid deep dives and flips
Deep dives, flips and other high-impact moves are best left for swimmers who have healthy ankles.
Swimming with sprained ankles can lead to more pain and time off the pool deck – so it’s best to take a break from diving until your ankle has healed.
The risk of aggravating an injury is great when you’re moving fast through deep water without being able to use your arms for balance or support.
Always take it easy
You should always pay attention to the condition of your sprained ankle. Do not exaggerate yourself or push your pain to the limit. Give your sprained ankle time to heal.
If your sprained ankle hurts more, you should always stop, don’t risk yourself into worse than a sprained ankle.
Last thoughts
It’s tempting to swim while having a sprained ankle. But waiting for a sprainked ankle to heal will take a week or two, and that the kind of time a enthusiast swimmer (like me) won’t want to wait. With our tips, you can take part in swimming with a sprained ankle, but always remember: take it easy and worsen your sprained ankle.
Safe swimming, everyone.