Ankle sprains are one of the most common sports injuries, sending about a million people in the U.S. to clinics every year.
Many people swear the appropriate first treatment is heat, saying it soothes the pain and promotes healing by stimulating blood flow. Others advocate ice, precisely because it does the reverse, slowing blood flow and minimizing inflammation.
In multiple studies, scientists have compared heat and ice, and according to research, ice is the winner. One prominent study found that immediate ice therapy “resulted in earlier return to activity.” In people with the most severe injuries, treatment with ice resulted in a 13-day recovery, compared with 30 days for those treated with heat.
For the best results, experts recommend the “Price” method: protection, rest, ice, compression and elevation. They caution that ice should be applied only 20 minutes at a time.