Next time you hurt yourself, don't rush for an ice pack before you read this article - Ice???.
We might be racking this up as another instance of trying to out-smart the body - and falling short. Again. Because there's no evidence it will improve your outcome, and some to suggest it might weaken the healing response.
There are a few important points that the article doesn't represent. Hence:
Point 1 - Inflammation isn't Swelling. You don't want to inhibit inflammation because it is part of the natural healing process. But you don't want excessive swelling which is just the watery component of inflammation. Because it can glue up and form what's called “pitting oedema”. This can result in a very stiff and problematic joint long-term.
Point 2 - Compression for ankles needs to be done the right way. The wrong way actually traps swelling in the ankle joint.
Point 3 - The ankle rehab guidelines stated in the article is a great starting point. But often a lot more is needed, particularly if someone is returning to sport. One in three adults go on to have chronic and repeated episodes of ankle instability and pain after their first injury. Sprains are often viewed like a common cold, I think because it's common to sprain your ankle as a child - you get over it without help. It's a different story when you're an adult because you weigh more, you have longer levers, and tend to cause more damage as a result.
The bottom line - just make sure you consult your Physio. Don't forget at BIM that we do free assessments for this reason!