Why is it important to keep a sprained ankle elevated?

Decrease swelling: Keeping your ankle elevated will reduce the swelling. Gravity brings the fluid back to your body and this will help the ankle to heal.

ELEVATION: After an injury, the small blood vessels in the area break open, releasing fluid; the swelling you see. The swelling can put pressure on the nerves in the area, causing you pain. Elevation helps get the excess fluid back up the leg, eventually becoming resorbed into the system.