But if you ice the ankle and it shows a minimal amount of instability, you can tape the ankle and put the player through a series of functional evaluations on the sidelines to see if he or she can cut, change directions, and pivot. Then you can decide if he or she can go back in the game. My own experience is that you re not. Most athletes with mild sprains who go back and play do well. Dr. Stone cautions, though, that every ankle sprain has to be rehabilitated, even mild ones.
Rehabilitation then begins with early mobilization.
Weight bearing then begins to the extent that safety and pain permit. The final phase includes functional drills and sport-specific activities. Most mild sprains can be rehabilitated within a week and moderate sprains within two weeks. Studies have demonstrated the necessary rehabilitation time to be anywhere from two to 31 days depending on the severity of injury. After rehabilitation, coaches and players must decide whether to protect the ankle once the athlete returns to sports when the risk of reinjury is high.