If your foot is swollen or painful, alternating between icing and warming can help reduce swelling, numb pain and keep away inflammation. To cool down, you can use an icepack, some ice cubes in a ziplock bag wrapped in a towel, or that bag of frozen baby carrots from the back of your freezer. To warm up, use a warm water bottle, a heating pad, or a microwavable pillow. Be careful not to overdo it as that could lead to frostbites or burns.

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Therapeutic exercises can help you with all sorts of foot and ankle injuries. There are a lot of exercises online, but if they're not right for your specific injury, they may actually induce more damage. Consult your doctor or physical therapist to find the most up-to-date methods for rehabilitating your muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

When your doctor says it's OK to start walking regularly again, wear supportive shoes to make sure your foot is stable and to prevent repeated injuries. Athletic footwear is a great option - it's designed to hold feet steady and absorb shock. If sneakers aren't your thing, go for flat-soled shoes that feel snug (but not tight), have a thick enough sole, and don't wobble.

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