Focal compression is the most effective method to prevent swelling and also the best way to resolve swelling at any point in the injury cycle. Ice won’t prevent swelling and isn’t as effective as a proper focal compression wrap at resolving it. 

You must have normal joint motion to start rehab exercises. It’s easier to retain range of motion (ROM) by preventing swelling than it is to regain ROM by resolving it. This is key to a rapid recovery and why managing swelling is paramount.

A wrap, by itself, forces swelling to fill the divots around the ankle knobs robbing joint motion, which, is exactly what you don’t want. A focal compression wrap’s u-shaped or donut pads fill the hollow areas providing equal pressure around the ankle. This keeps swelling from collecting in, or, forces swelling out of these areas.​