There is no specific amount of time that you need to wait to return to sports since every ankle sprain creates differing severity of injury and impairments. Someone with a mild sprain may return to sport in 1-2 weeks, while it may take 6 weeks to 3 months for someone with a more severe sprain to be ready. There are a few guidelines; however, that you can follow.

ROM: Your range of motion should be equal to your other ankle especially with lifting the ball of the  foot upward called dorsiflexion.

STRENGTH: You should have enough strength to perform 10 heel raises on the affected foot through full ROM. There are other strength parameters throughout your leg and hip that you should have assessed by your physical therapist.

BALANCE: You should be able to balance on the toes of your foot for 20 seconds and with foot flat and your eyes closed for at least 10 seconds. This allows sensitive receptors in your ankle to provide quick feedback to your brain about your ankle position. It is these receptors that are important in preventing future ankle sprains during high level sports activity or when running on uneven surfaces. You should also be able to hop on one foot an equivalent distance as you do on your other foot.

AGILITY: You should be able to run forward, backward and side to side quickly and without pain. If your sport requires explosive jumping then you should also be able to perform these activities in a practice environment without pain before returning to your sport.

READINESS: You should no longer feel any sense of fear or uncertainty prior to returning to sport. If you do, performing drills and scrimmages until you are confident about your abilities is an important part of preparing for return to play. You should also gradually return to your previous level of activity if you have not maintained your cardiovascular and fitness levels. It is also important to manage your sport load and mental load. Participating in 2 sports at one time increases your load and may lead to re-injury.

When you do return to your sport, you should wear a lace up ankle support brace for up to 6 months.  Be sure that you have the appropriate supportive shoe wear for your specific sport.

If you are involved in sports play, having a personal physical therapist is an important part of your athletic development. Your physical therapist will perform a variety of clinical assessments and  functional tests to be sure that your ankle has recovered the strength and stability you need for your sport participation. They can advise you if you need further training to manage the stresses placed on your foot during your sport in order to  prevent re-injury or permanent instability.

Since recurrent ankle sprains are correlated with returning to sport play too soon, it is important to make an informed decision and be sure you are ready. Your coach and your physical therapist can help you with these decisions.