When many athletes roll their ankle, they assume it’s a simple ankle sprain and try to keep going. In this Ask Dr. Geier video, I discuss when it might be worth trying to test it out and play through a sprained ankle and when it might be worth seeing a medical professional.

I was playing basketball with my friends at a sleepover. I’m in 8th grade, and I rolled my ankle when I was dunking and landed on it wrong. I play baseball, and my coaches don’t want excuses. What should I tell them? I can barely walk, and we run a lot in baseball this year.

Ankle sprains are the most common injury to result from inversion injuries to the ankle. Unfortunately, other, more serious injuries can occur too.

Man wraps ankle to play through a sprained ankle

In this video, I discuss some signs that the injury could be more serious. I also discuss the idea of trying to play through it and how getting it checked by an athletic trainer, physical therapist, doctor or orthopedic surgeon can often be a better place to start.

Also read:
What can be done for repeated ankle sprains?
Ankle sprains: Mechanism of injury, diagnosis and initial treatment

Recommended Products and Resources
Click here to go to Dr. David Geier’s Amazon Influencer store!
Due to a large number of questions I have received over the years asking about products for health, injuries, performance, and other areas of sports, exercise, work and life, I have created an Amazon Influencer page. While this information and these products are not intended to treat any specific injury or illness you have, they are products I use personally, have used or have tried, or I have recommended to others. THE SITE MAY OFFER HEALTH, FITNESS, NUTRITIONAL AND OTHER SUCH INFORMATION, BUT SUCH INFORMATION IS DESIGNED FOR EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THE CONTENT DOES NOT AND IS NOT INTENDED TO CONVEY MEDICAL ADVICE AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PRACTICE OF MEDICINE. YOU SHOULD NOT RELY ON THIS INFORMATION AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR, NOR DOES IT REPLACE, PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE, DIAGNOSIS, OR TREATMENT. THE SITE IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ACTIONS OR INACTION ON A USER’S PART BASED ON THE INFORMATION THAT IS PRESENTED ON THE SITE. Please note that as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.