Injured your Ankle? 3 Proven Methods for Boosting your Recovery

Dealing with the aftermath of a broken, or sprained ankle can often be frustrating and tedious. There’s the initial pain to contend with, the restrictions of limited mobility, and the anxiety over whether your bone will be able to recover to its former strength and flexibility.

While it may seem like you have no choice but to wait for the healing process to take its own course, there are definitely some steps you can actively take to hasten your road to recovery.

Protein is Key

The caloric demands for healing a bone fracture are immense. While it might seem like you’re lying around doing nothing your body is making extreme metabolic demands that might require up to 6000 calories a day in order to promote proper healing.

When planning your diet it’s important to maintain a healthy balance of nutrients that promote the creation of healthy bone matter. Try to up your protein intake, through lean meats, nuts, eggs and milk. Amino acids in proteins have been proven to enhance the absorption of calcium and an increase in protein is correlated to a 10-20% increase in the rate of healing from surgery.

Get your Vitamins and Minerals

Vitamins are also vitally important to fighting off inflammation in your surrounding muscles and promoting increased absorption of calcium and ultimately formation of bone matter. Vitamin C, is a great anti-oxidant that helps in fighting off inflammation and promotes the production of bone collagen. While Vitamin D helps in calcium absorption and Vitamin K helps to bind the calcium to your bones.

Some important minerals in the healing process are zinc, copper, calcium and phosphorus. Nuts, beans and lentils, leafy green vegetables and fish are all vital sources of these essential minerals providing you with a healthy balance of each of the required elements, so make sure to stock up.

Don’t Put Weight on It!

Perhaps the most important advice you can take from your doctor is to keep your foot elevated whenever possible, and to reduce any load bearing activities that might affect your ankle. At KneeRover®, our specially designed knee scooters will help you stay mobile while still keeping your injured foot clear of any chances of re-injury. The special handle bars on the knee scooter help you to maneuver across any terrain, which means you don’t have to remain cooped up at home anymore.