How long do you have to wait for a sprained ankle to heal?

[VulcanJedi]

I’ve been doing C25K, I was mid week 6 and I’ve just sprained my ankle!

How long do you think it will be before I can go back to running? Should I go back a couple of weeks as I will lose fitness?

[AdverseTangent]

Do some walks and see how you feel. Don’t put yourself through pain, just run when it doesn’t hurt.

[Hidden]

It takes about a month for a sprained ankle to heal.

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

Hard to tell... the one thing I would say is don’t try and rush back with an ankle, they’re slow to heal as they don’t get very good blood supply. A friend of mine tried to run while still in slight pain and was then out for 6 months (or has he measures things, a whole marathon season)

Exercise if it’s not provoking the pain, just no high impact stuff... once you’re pain free, try a really short run in one of your walks.

If you lose a little fitness by waiting a little longer than a couple of weeks, it’s preferable to losing months and being back at the start.

Hopefully it’s only slight and you’ll be back soon.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

It takes as long as it takes.

You may be able to aid recovery with cycling once the pain subsides, as this will keep the joint mobile and improve blood flow without weight bearing loads.

After a light sprain I did not run for about a month.

As stated in the guide to the plan, healthunlocked.com/couchto5... you lose no significant condition in the first two weeks of non running.

After that loss of condition is gradual.

All any of us can do after a lay off is to go out and see what we can comfortably manage, then build back up gently, using C25k or something similar as a guide to weekly increase.

[Luvlollyboo]

I’m afraid it took me a year. But we are all different and much will depend on severity of initial injury. My ankle went right over. On my gravel drive!!