On Instagram, Dr Victoria Tchaikovski, sports doctor (@drtchaikovski) and Erwann Le Corre, sports physiotherapist (@erwann_lecorre) show a recovery strapping after an ankle sprain. THE
strap can help limit the risk of recurrence, but it does not eliminate it and does not replace rehabilitation.
Strapping can secure the recovery, not decide it alone
The specialists insist on an important point: the assembly presented concerns a lateral ankle sprainthat is to say the classic mechanism where the foot goes inwards. Erwann Le Corre thus explains placing an adhesive elastic band, when returning to sport, with the foot in a “functional position” and without seeking hypercorrection. The objective described is to limit inversion, in other words to prevent the foot from moving inwards.
This logic is consistent with the recommendations of the High Authority for Health: a strap-type bandage or a flexible splint can be offered during physical activity to prevent a recurrence of sprain of the lateral collateral ligament of the ankle. This option can indeed be offered but it is not an automatic solution, nor valid for all ankle injuries.
In practice, strapping is integrated into broader support. Depending on the stage of the sprain, the pain, the stability and the progress, it can support the gradual return to activity. For certain grade II or III sprains, the HAS suggests wearing it during physical activity from D5-D7 and until D21, in a context assessed by a caregiver. You should therefore not turn a short tutorial into a universal green light to play again.
The real criteria for recovery after a sprain
Preventing recidivism is based above all on a simple idea: resume because the ankle is functional, not just because a deadline has passed. The HAS recommends exercise-based rehabilitation to reduce the risk of recurrence and chronic instability. She also recommends, in adults, the use of the Ankle-GO score to help determine if resuming physical or sporting activity is possible.
In other words, the strap can be a tool, but it should not mask an ankle that is still painful, unstable or insufficiently rehabilitated. Among the benchmarks cited in the HAS arguments include the absence of pain when walking, the absence of pain during the desired activity and the desire to resume. To improve your sporting progress, True Medical also details the precautions for returning to sport after a sprained ankle.
You should also keep in mind that the montage shown on Instagram does not apply to all situations. Significant pain, persistent swelling, a feeling of a loose ankle or doubt about the diagnosis warrant professional advice. Certain injuries, such as a fracture, damage to the syndesmosis or a medial sprain, do not fall under the same reasoning. It is precisely to avoid recurrences and instability that a sprain should not be trivialized: avoiding recurrences and chronic instability after a sprain requires a real assessment.
Signs to remove the strap
The video reminds us of a very concrete safety instruction: check the color of the toes and the comfort of the assembly. This is essential, because a bandage that is too tight can hinder circulation or cause sensitivity problems. The account also mentions the protection of protruding bony areas, in order to avoid painful support points.
After installation, the strap must remain comfortable during the activity. It should be loosened or removed if any of these signs appear:
- Toes change color or become unusually cold;
- Tingling, numbness or loss of sensitivity appear;
- The athlete feels excessive compression or localized pain on a bony protrusion;
- The assembly hinders the movement to the point of modifying the support or the stroke.
Good recovery strapping is therefore not intended to completely “block” the ankle. It must accompany a progressively regained sporting activity, without unusual pain. If sprains recur despite rehabilitation and protection, an assessment is useful to understand what maintains the instability and prevent recurrent sprains.