To think DC shouldn't do this race so soon after a sprained ankle?

[Lilliputtle]

DD (age 17) sprained her ankle. She could barely walk at first, but it's getting better each day - currently (day 3) no longer painful but she's still limping. She is insistent that it 'might be ok' to do a 1500m race at school on day 6 after the injury. She says she has warned her teacher she might need to be replaced, but 'will see how it feels'. I have shown her the NHS guidance which says to avoid strenuous exercise for up to 8 weeks. I want her to make the right decision herself, but if she doesn't take her head out of the sand, AIBU to consider contacting the school to make it absolutely clear I don't want her to run? I know they like to be independent at this age but I'm not convinced she has told school the exact nature of the injury, so don't think I can rely on the teacher to stop her running without my intervention.

I think at 17 she can probaby make her own decision. If it's been a bad sprain it'll likely become apparent that she'll be unable to do it anyway.

At her age I would probably leave her to it. She probably won't get very far running on a sprained ankle anyway

She's 17, leave her to make her own choices she knows how sore it is or isn't.

Hmm, she may be 17, but I still have a duty of care towards her, and so does her school. She wants to run so she doesn't let down her team, but she could let them down more if she flounders on the day, and potentially put herself out of action for much longer.

I wonder what a doctor or physio would advise.

She will know better than you if she can run or not

Us she serious about running?

If she is then she needs to consider the permanent damage she will do to the ligaments around her ankle. Ask her to Google some of the more scientific sources.

One race is not worth it.

Having stretched the transverse ligaments in.my ankle in my late teens I can tell you that a bone break would have healed more quickly and completely. I am in my mid 50s and it still causes issues.

Oh, and I am an exercise physiologist, ex lecturer. I know what I am talking about 😊

She is very serious about a different sport, not running The run is for sports day - so absolutely not worth it, except that she wants to help her house win, and it's close. Bonkers.

Was it officially diagnosed as a sprain? If so, might be worth asking the doctor or physio who dealt with it what they think. If not, it might be more minor than you think, in which case I'd probably get some kinesiology tape for her to wear along the line of the injury, or even a stiffened support, and let her run if she wants to.

Worst case, it takes a bit longer to recover completely. It's not life-threatening.

Please don't rely on k-tape.

Evidence to support bits use, over and above placebo effect and a little additional confidence, is low. Any lightly constricting aid is as good and doesn't come with all the magical thinking.

She's 17 and old enough to decide for herself.

But, if she is serious about a sport then she needs to know just how much damage a 'simple sprain' can do.

She needs to make an informed decision.

Honestly, if it's not fit for the race, she simply won't be able to finish it. 8 weeks is excessive for a sprain that is no longer painful after 3 days.

@IWouldLikeToKnow

Honestly, if it's not fit for the race, she simply won't be able to finish it. 8 weeks is excessive for a sprain that is no longer painful after 3 days.

If it's no longer painful after 3 days, then it wasn't a sprain, it was a strain. Much less serious.

@IWouldLikeToKnow

Honestly, if it's not fit for the race, she simply won't be able to finish it. 8 weeks is excessive for a sprain that is no longer painful after 3 days.

The thing about not being able to finish isn’t necessarily true. I ran for months with a torn peroneal tendon and fractured fibula…I mean it hurt like hell every time ran but I carried on running. Including 10k the night before they plastered my leg! I’ve just had surgery after really buggering my ankle up by not resting more. The tendon I believe was a result of an ankle sprain/strain and caused more issues than the fibula.

@CovidCorvid Yes - but she says it's not painful any more. Yours hurt like hell. That's the difference. I certainly wouldn't advice anyone to run through that kind of pain.

"If it's no longer painful after 3 days, then it wasn't a sprain, it was a strain. Much less serious."

Not necessarily. If it was a grade 1 sprain, so only slight stretching or tearing of the ligament then by day 3 the pain is usually fairly slight. Even with grade 2/3 sprains the worst of the pain is usually gone fairly quickly.

The problem is that things will be weakened and will need time to heal. A 17 year old with a minor strain may be able to get away with it but it does risk further injury and extending the healing time.

And also to comment on kinesiology tape -> it does fuck all. Literally fuck all.

Sorry, should have been clearer. It wouldn’t hurt when I started running. I would be totally pain free. But then after a short time it would start to hurt and the pain would build up….guess she’s only talking about 1500m though. 🤷‍♀️ In between runs I was fine, no pain.