Ankle Sprains - Do I need an Xray ?

❗️Many of us who have suffered an ankle sprain wonder whether it is necessary to go to A&E to have the injury assessed and treated, or whether we should just rest it at home. ❗️If the pain and swelling are severe and you are unable to weight bear on the foot, you probably should go to A&E.

❗️There are a set of guidelines called the Ottowa Rules that are often used to determine whether you need an xray of your ankle and these may help you to figure out whether you should go to A&E or not. ❗️If in doubt you should always seek the advice of a qualified health care professional.

❗️If you don’t have any pain in those bony areas and you’re able to weight-bear completely fine, then the good news is that there is minimal chance that you’ve broken a bone in your ankle. So, you may well be able to save yourself a trip to A&E

❗️However, it is still advisable to see a physiotherapist in the next couple of days, so that they can assess the injury & give you advice on early management of the injury.

This will enable you to do the right things and to avoid the risk of suffering persistent or recurrent problems - something that can happen in up to 70 percent of people after a lateral ankle sprain.

Contact us for more advice or to make an appointment