Hey, this is a question for those of you who have sprained an ankle..

On Feb 10th, a good 2 months ago, I sprained my right ankle, 2nd degree, by rolling it too much on a frontflip. As of now, the ankle feels just fine. I can run, jump (though my jump is still a little weaker on the right side) and land things just fine. But I'm in the middle of making a video, and I need to get footage of bigger stuff, roof gaps, flips, and trickier moves. I feel okay, but my confidence still suffers from the injury. Because I haven't been able to practice moves in 2 months, and I still don't know where I am in terms of recovery, it makes me unsure of what I can and cannot do. In other words, I am currently unaware of my limitations, I don't know where they are. I don't know if my ankle is still weak and ready to sprain again upon some larger impact, or if it's basically back to 100%.

So my question is, those of you who have sprained an ankle, how long did it take you to recover to the point that you could do flips and drops on hard ground? As I said, I sprained it 2 months ago, and I have not felt pain in it for weeks now, doing minor drops and vaults and such. Occasionally a little discomfort, or weakness when I take off the foot, but as I said, no pain. I'm very anxious to get back to my training and get my confidence back up, but at the same time, I don't want to be overconfident and push myself, then get re-injured and spend another 2 months doing little to no parkour.

Why do you need bigger stuff for a video?

That's kinda where i'm at exept a little worse of an injury and a little more healing time. I just don't know what to do. I think at some point I will have to just let go and go big otherwise I will never Truly know my limitations. It's just hard to know when the time is right.

Never.

You learn your limitations by learning your body and getting a feel for what is comfortable and what isn't.  There's never a reason to go big.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8B1XvEbJUKE&eurl=http://www.americanparkour.com/smf/index.php?action=pm

I'm right there with you.  I sprained my ankle last fall in a mosh pit.  I was stupid and still moshed and it ended up taking all winter for it to get to 70%. its strength has really progressed with doing the excersises on the video.
I usally strech, do the pulses till almost failure. strech. then do the excercise where you point your toes down three times and then do 2 circles, one clockwise and one counter and repeat 10 times on one foot.  Also once you feel stronger you can work both ankles out at the same time during this time by keeping your base foot on something uneven like a towel or throw pillow ( i found works best).  Another one thats not on the video but was suggested by my uncle who is a physical therapist is to do a NIKE swish with your foot, but make sure you do the up part of the swish or it wont do anything for your ankle.  it works out the muscles that get damaged when sprain your ankle.  If your doing it properly you'll feel it fairly quckly when starting out, since these muscles rarely get conditioned. (well by average people, dont think that counts traceurs)

Also something im trying out and started doing last night and i encourage others to try it out and let me know how it works. Is to crouch down as if your doing a monkey vault. Make sure your ankles line up with your legs and arn't bulled out.  This is fairly easy in it's self. it helps your stablize yourself with your toes and ankle muscles. Once you have this down (which shouldnt take you long, maybe a day) start swinging your arms around to thrown your balance off but only enough to where its a struggle to keep your pose.  I like to practice my liquid dancing.  Just thought of this but maybe try doing it on that throw pillow.

Also i'm with the rest of the guys. Honestly why go big expecially right after a injury.  I think it would be more difficult and a better display of your skills if you show us some amazing control and flow on so many other aspects of pk. Expecially ones that wont risk your being out of the rest of the summer if something were to happen.  Just think how pissed you would be at yourself if you had to give up a whole summer of pk for a 3-5 min video.  Just my opinion.

Thanks a lot guys, Ozzi, Pat, and the rest. I appreciate the feedback, you guys really showed me a different and proper perspective.

You guys will see, in a few days, a video of exactly that, smooth and relatively low impact parkour. Keep an eye out

Here's the video. it's also in the Pics and Videos section if you wanna leave feedback. Sorry for the double post of the video, just wanted to show you guys.

I know some of it is crazy. The first half of the video is 80% shots before my ankle injury. After the jump off the roof (1:20) is (mostly) newer stuff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYw4mi_ROzA

To his defense that is a very old clip, I told him he looked like a newb and that sucked but he is a roof jump whore