Ankle injuries & riding?

[Kilroy]

:-[

So an overzealous, mountain boot wearing, friend.....took out my ankle Sunday afternoon playing volleyball.

It was not fractured, thankfully...got X-rays at ER, but it is quite badly sprained. I was wondering if anyone out there has experience coming back to mtn biking with an ankle sprain. Time frame? did you ride road for a little while to stay in shape? any miracle cures?

Needless to say this has killed the adventure race season, for now :(, but I dont want to lose what I have been able to build up, with regards to riding conditioning.

Any ideas?

Kilroy

[If_Rider]

Kilroy,

Tough luck...heal quick man.

Here's an old thread on ankles and pedals.

Mike

http://www.nemba.org/yabbse/index.php?board=8;action=display;threadid=1046;sta rt=0

[fishingwithghandi]

I'm assuming you rolled your ankle? I rolled my ankle a year and a half ago and six months later blew it apart (compound fracture of the tib/fib and dislocation of the talus). I firmly believe that the break is/was related to the earlier sprain. Don't mess around with ankle injuries; I've spent the last year in Physical Therapy and have now been told that ankle fusion is my only option. Granted, my injury (the break, not the sprain) was catastrophic (surgeon's words, not mine).
Here's a brace that many swear by, http://www.activeankle.com/store/products.html

Good luck with the healing and do everything they tell you to. Also, I'd seriously consider platform pedals.

[hogboy]

stay off it


if you take one bad dab on a bike you
can seriously nuke it again. risky to ride

stay off it one month at least.

what you should do in the meantime
are leg extensions and leg curls at the gym
whilst you wait it out. leg lifts too.

[boingboing]

I sprained mine pretty bad at the end of the snowboarding season this year and spent almost a week on crutches. Trying to get back into shape for riding this year wasn't a big deal. I backed the screws out on my cleats so that I didn't have to really twist at all to un clip from my pedals. I also stayed on really mellow trails like fire roads, double track, Robinson state park, the stuff that could normally induce a sound sleep. I sprained mine wearing snowboard boots, not by being trampled by a pair of size 12's though. I would say don't push it, you don't want to be laid up all season.

[Quo Fan]

Ankles take a long time to heal, because we have to use them. If you want to ride, get flat pedals, and ride on the street, or stay on "easy" trails. There are a number of decent braces for your ankle. When I messed up mine in karate, I used a lace-up one that supported my ankle, yet allowed some range of motion.

[Kilroy]

Thanks for the feedback, walking is still kind of an issue...


I plan on staying on roads or fire trails...I am trying to beg borrow or steal a road bike....(I dont have one and cant afford one right now)

I am hoping to be back on the trails by July, typing that last part almost made me sick.

:(

Kilroy

[heckler]

That sucks! I trashed both ankles riding at separate times. It really hurts when the doctor tells you that you would have been better off breaking it than spraining it! Spent two weeks on crutches each time. Road riding is a real good way to get some of the strength back but you just have to give it time. As was said, it will be weak for a while and if you reinjure it during that time, it is only going to be worse.

Heal fast!