Ankle injuries in dance are extremely common, but not all are created equal. When can you simply R.I.C.E.? And when do you need to seek professional advice?

You don't want to miss a potentially severe injury such as a fractured bone. Here are three warning signs that you should see an expert:

1. You can't dance (or walk) without pain.
After you rolled your ankle, can you continue dancing? If you can't even bear weight or walk for a few steps, it's a sign of something serious.

2. You feel sharp pain in one spot.
Do a quick test by palpating the ankle's bony landmarks. If there is localized pain along the medial or lateral malleolus (the bony protuberances just above your heel) or tenderness over the navicular bone (on the inner, top part of your foot near the ankle) or fifth metatarsal (on the outer edge of your foot) it means that you need to see a doctor, who will likely prescribe further imaging such as X-rays.

3. You still hurt seriously after about a week.
Even if you can walk and there isn't localized tenderness, seek help if the pain persists for more than one to two weeks.

在舞蹈中，腳踝受傷極為普遍，但不同的傷患成因各異。您什麼時候可以進行簡單的R.I.C.E. (休息、冰敷、加壓、抬高)？什麼時候需要尋求專業建議？

您不會想忽略了潛在的嚴重傷患，例如骨折。這是提示您應該諮詢專家的三個警號：

1. 您不能在沒有痛楚的情況下跳舞（或走路）
拗柴過後，您可以繼續跳舞嗎？如果您連承受重量或走幾步路都不能，則代表情況嚴重。

2. 您在一小處感到劇烈的疼痛
透過觸碰腳踝的骨性標誌，以進行快速測試。如果內側或外側踝關節（在腳跟上方突起的骨狀位置）有局部疼痛，或舟狀骨（在腳的內、頂部，腳踝附近）或第五蹠骨（在腳掌的外邊緣）有壓痛，這意味著您需要尋求醫生協助，醫生很可能會為你作進一步的成像診斷，例如X光檢查。

3. 大約一週後，您仍然感到嚴重的痛楚
即使你沒有感到局部壓痛，並且可以走路，但如果疼痛持續超過一到兩週，尋求醫生協助也是明智的選擇。