What is the recommended rest period for foot strain?

Recommended Rest Period for Foot Strain

The recommended rest period for foot strain is up to 72 hours to allow the ligaments to heal, followed by functional treatment with appropriate support for 4-6 weeks. 1

Initial Management (First 72 Hours)

• Follow the PRICE protocol (Protection, Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) during the acute phase of foot strain 1
• Rest the injured foot for up to 72 hours to decrease pain and swelling and protect ligaments from further injury 1
• Apply ice to the injured area to reduce edema and help decrease pain and recovery time 1
• Use compression with a compressive device to protect the foot and reduce swelling 1
• Elevate the foot to decrease swelling 1

Treatment After Initial Rest Period

Functional Support (4-6 Weeks)

• Use functional support for 4-6 weeks rather than immobilization 1
• An ankle brace shows greater effects compared to other types of functional support 1
• Functional supports allow the patient to load damaged tissues in a protected manner 1
• Treatment with proper ankle support is more effective than less adequate support such as compression bandage or tubigrip 1

Medication

• NSAIDs (e.g., piroxicam, celecoxib, naproxen) can help reduce swelling and pain, and allow for faster return to activity 1
• Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is equally effective as NSAIDs for pain control 1
• Avoid heat application during the acute phase of foot strain 1

Exercise Therapy

• Begin exercise therapy early following the initial rest period 1
• Neuromuscular and proprioceptive exercises help reduce the risk of recurrent injuries 1
• Supervised exercises focusing on proprioception, strength, coordination, and function lead to faster recovery 1
• Exercise therapy should be included in regular training activities as much as possible 1

Return to Work and Activities

• For mild foot strain (distortion), return to mostly sitting work can occur at 2 weeks post-injury 1
• For partial or total ligament rupture, return to full work activities typically occurs at 6-8 weeks depending on task requirements 1
• Wearing a brace and implementing immediate functional treatment in combination with a return-to-work schedule speeds recovery 1

Special Considerations

• If immobilization is needed to treat severe pain or edema, it should be limited to a maximum of 10 days, after which functional treatment should begin 1
• Manual joint mobilization combined with exercise therapy provides better outcomes than exercise therapy alone 1
• Reexamining the foot 3-5 days after injury is important to distinguish partial tears from complete ligament ruptures 1

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Prolonged immobilization (>10 days) results in less optimal outcomes compared to functional support and exercise strategies 1
• Wearing compression stockings beyond the acute phase is not helpful in treatment 1
• Delaying the start of exercise therapy may increase the risk of recurrent injury and functional instability 1
• Heat should not be applied during the acute phase of foot strain 1
• Progressing activity too quickly without adequate support can lead to reinjury 1