〔Abstract〕 Objective To analyze the effect of floating needle therapy on the recovery of ankle function in patients with acute ankle sprain. Methods 74 patients with acute ankle sprain treated in Nanyang Orthopedic Hospital from August 2020 to June 2021 were randomly divided into floating acupuncture group and acupuncture group, with 37 cases in each group. The acupuncture group was treated with traditional acupuncture while the floating acupuncture group was treated with floating acupuncture. The curative effect and ankle function of the two groups after 7 days of treatment, the clinical symptom score, American orthopedic foot ankle society (AOFAS) score and visual analogue scale (VAS) score before and after 7 days of treatment were compared. Results The total effective rate of the floating acupuncture group was 97.30%, which was higher than 78.38% of the acupuncture group , and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). After 7 days of treatment, the body swing amplitude of patients in the floating acupuncture group was smaller than that in the acupuncture group, and the stability time was longer than that in the acupuncture group, with statistical significances (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in heel raising angle and heel height between the two groups (P > 0.05). After 7 days of treatment, the clinical symptoms score and VAS score of the two groups were lower than those before treatment, while AOFAS score was higher than that before treatment, the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The clinical symptoms score and VAS score of the floating acupuncture group were lower than that of the acupuncture group, and AOFAS score was higher than that of the acupuncture group, the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion After the treatment of floating acupuncture therapy on the patients with acute ankle sprain, the recovery speed of ankle joint is improved, the clinical symptoms and pain are significantly improved.