Some common sports injuries don’t warrant a trip to the ER but can still be extremely painful. If not treated properly, these injuries can create other lasting problems that will certainly lead to future trips to the doctor. Take a look at some advice from Lifescript for caring for some of the most common sports injuries that occur:

Ankle Sprains

If you’ve twisted your ankle, welcome to the club. About 25,000 ankle sprains occur in the U.S. each day, reports the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. One misstep on an uneven surface – or a sudden change in direction on the tennis court – could have you nursing a swollen ankle for days.

What to Do:

Immediately do P.R.I.C.E:

Protection: you need to give your injury time to heal. Bandage it, brace it or use crutches when necessary.
Rest: stay off of the injury until swelling reduces.
Ice: the sooner you get ice on the sprain, the less swelling and inflammation will occur. Don’t, however, apply ice directly to skin. Wrap an ice pack in a thin cloth or towel to protect your skin.
Compression: wrap injury in an ACE bandage, but be sure not to wrap too tight.
Elevation: whenever possible, be sure to keep the injury above your heart level.

Find information on healing 6 other injuries over at Lifescript’s How to Heal 7 Common Sports Injuries.