What is it sprained and how to treat a sprain ? tips on how to treat sprains
How to treat sprain |
Definition
What is it sprained
a sprain is an injury that occurs on the tissue that connects the bones with the joints. Usually, the injury is caused by the ligaments are twisted and torn.
Ligaments are fibrous tissues that are strong and located in Your joints. The function of ligaments is to bind and connect one bone with the other bones. Ligaments help stabilize the movements of the joints, so the joints do not do excessive movements.
Sprains most often occur in the ankle. However, a Sprain can also occur in the knees, hands, or fingers. This condition can cause muscle pain, swelling, bruising, and lowered ability to move.
Foot sprains or Sprains commonly affect the ligaments on the outer portion of the ankle. Injuries range from mild to severe, depending on how damaged the ligaments are injured.
Treatment and care for ankle injuries depend on their severity. Although this condition can generally be overcome with the available medicines in the pharmacy, sometimes You require a further medical examination to get the best handling.
how common are Sprained ?
Sprains or injury is a very common condition occurs. Sprains can afflict everyone from the class of any age.
However, the people who had suffered from a previous injury are more prone to injury at a later time. In addition, the physical condition that rarely move and are not flexible to increase one's risk of injury.
Athletes and children who often participate in sports activities are also prone to experience this condition, especially if it was not warming up or stretching enough before the day.
A wrist sprain is a condition that can be prevented by recognizing and knowing the risk factors that exist. For more information about Sprains, You can consult with Your doctor.
Signs & symptoms
What are the signs and symptoms of Sprains ?
Symptoms or signs of a Sprain can be variegated. Usually it depends on the severity of the injury experienced. The following are signs and common symptoms of a Sprained or dislocated:
- The pain.
- Swollen.
- Bruises.
- The Area of the injury become stiff and hard-driven.
- Muscle function decreases.
- Pain increases when the area of injury driven.
Chances are there signs and symptoms that are not mentioned above. If You have concerns about a particular symptom, please consult with Your doctor.
When to see a doctor?
If the pain experienced due to a Sprained still relatively mild, You can handle it independently at home. However, injuries that cause Sprains have the potential to cause a variety of injuries that are more severe, for example a broken bone.
Therefore, You need to consult to the doctor if:
- Can't move or feel the load on the area of the body injured.
- Pain in the area of the joints that experience injury to the bone.
- Numbness in the area that is experiencing a Sprain.
Everyone's body shows signs and symptoms that vary. To get the proper handling and in accordance with the severity of Your injury, always consult to the doctor.
What are the complications that can be caused by a Sprain?
If You fell and suffered a Sprain, please handle with home remedies or consult to the doctor. Sprains that are not treated immediately can lead to several complications, such as:
- Pain or chronic muscle pain.
- Chronic problems in the joints.
- Arthritis in the joints.
The cause
What are the causes of Sprains?
The main cause of the Sprain generally is a fall, slip, accident, or experienced trauma on the joints.
These movements cause Your joints move exceeds the range of normal. This condition resulted in the ligaments stretch or tear.
Here are a few things that can cause Your ligaments stretch and tear:
- Athletic activities or sports, such as running and jogging.
- The accident.
- A fall or slip.
- Too force yourself lifting heavy weights.
- Using the hand as the object while being knocked down.
- Standing or sitting in the wrong position.
- Do a movement repeatedly for a long time.
- Feet to be trampled upon.
- Physical activities on rough surfaces.
Risk factors
What increases the risk of a Sprain?
Anyone from various age group, race, or gender can experience a Sprain. However, there are some risk factors that can increase Your potential of experiencing Sprained.
Have one or several risk factors does not mean You will certainly experience this condition. In some cases Sprains, there are also people who Sprained or dislocated despite having no risk factors at all.
The following are risk factors that can trigger the occurrence of Sprained or dislocated, namely:
1. Actively participate in sports activities
Sports such as football, basketball, tennis, and running involves movement of the body very much. If You or Your children are athletes or are in the team of a particular sport, the risk of You experiencing injury, especially in the ligaments of the foot, becomes higher.
2. The body is not proportional
If You have proportionally less body shape, for example excessive weight or obesity, muscle and joints become weaker. This could potentially affect the movement of the body and trigger Sprains.
3. Using sports equipment that is not appropriate
Sports equipment that is old or problematic can enlarge Your chances of experiencing injury. Therefore, wear shoes and equipment in accordance with the type of exercise You do.
4. Not warming up
One of the things fatal not people do before exercising is warm up. Heating and cooling can help loosen the muscles and increase the suppleness of the body.
Without warming up before exercise, the risk of You experiencing injury was higher.
5. Body fatigue
When Your body is exhausted, the legs can not withstand the load of the body with the better. This condition causes You to more at risk of Sprained foot or sprained.
6. Environment
If You run across a slippery, wet, or rough, there is a possibility You could slip or fall. Your chances to experience a Sprained foot or sprained any bigger.
Diagnosis & treatment
The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult Your doctor.
How to diagnose a Sprain?
When You experience symptoms that are quite serious, immediately consult a part of the body that is Sprained to the nearest doctor.
The doctor will diagnose the area which is Sprained or dislocated by doing checks on the area, good feet, hands, or fingers You. During the examination, the doctor will try to move the joint in various ways.
This physical examination may be painful and uncomfortable. The goal is to determine the movement of the maximum of the joint, presence of pain, softness, weakness, or instability in the area that is Sprained.
After checking the area, the doctor will recommend some type of test to determine the degree or level of injury are Dislocated. Here are the stages:
- First degree (mild): pain and swelling in the joints lighter, the movement is still stable.
- The second level (medium): pain and swelling are accompanied by bruising and instability when moving.
- Third degree (severe): pain, swelling, and bruising is more severe, the joints are not stable, and torn ligaments.
Here are some of the types of tests that regular doctors recommend:
1. X-ray
In the process of X-ray, Your body will be given a little beam of radiation to produce images of the bones of Your ankle. This test is to ascertain the condition of Your bones as well as get rid of the possibility of broken bones.
2. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
An MRI uses radio waves and a strong magnetic field to produce a 3 dimensional image. These images can show the structure of the ankle and the tissues in it, including the ligaments.
3. CT scan
A CT scan can show the results of a more detailed picture of the joints of Your bones. CT scan combined with X-ray to produce 3-dimensional images from various angles.
4. ULTRASOUND
An ULTRASOUND test uses sound waves to produce an image. Doctors use this test to help check the condition of the ligaments or muscles when the legs are in different positions when Sprained.
How to treat a Sprain?
Generally, how the treatment of Sprains depends on severity. Treatment is performed with the aim to overcome the feeling of muscle pain, swelling, restoring the ligaments are torn, and restore the function of certain parts of the body after experiencing a Sprain.
If a Sprain that You experienced is quite severe, You may be referred to a specialist or orthopedist. Further treatment such as hospitalization or surgery may be given.
1. Home remedies
Based on the Mayo Clinic, to care for a muscle injury at home, You can try the four easy steps which is often referred to as the method of RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation). Do this treatment in the first few days.
- Rest
Avoid activities that involve movement too much. Rest the body part that is experiencing a Sprain, be it hands, feet, or fingers, at least for 48 hours.
- Ice
Use the ice pack or compress the area of the sprain use ice for 15 to 20 minutes. Repeat this step every 2 or 3 hours while You are awake. However, if You have diabetes, consult first with your doctor before using this way.
- Compression
To help relieve the swelling, the bandage area that are experiencing a muscle injury with a bandage. Make sure You don't tie it too tight.
- Elevation
Swelling can also be overcome by way of positioning the parts of the body that the injury higher than the heart You. Do this while You are sitting or lying down, especially when You sleep at night. Gravity can help heal the swelling to drain the excess fluid in the area.
2. Drugs
In some cases, You can take medicines to help relieve pain due to Sprains.
Some medicines to cope with Sprains that You can try is:
- Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB).
- Naproxen sodium (Aleve).
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol).
- Drugs nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (Aspirin).
- Aspercreme.
3. Help tools
Depending on the severity of the Terkilirnya, the doctor will also recommend You use a bandage, plaster of sport, or the brace which are installed or used to help You reduce the pain. This is expected to help stabilize the movement of parts of the body experiencing muscle injuries such.
4. Physical therapy
When the swelling improves, You need to do some recovery exercises to prevent stiffness, increase strength, and prevent chronic problems that may appear. Each therapist has a practice of its own to help train your balance and Your stability.
In most cases, surgery for an ankle injury is very rarely done. Surgery is only required for Sprains that did not improve despite having been given medical treatment and treatment.
Depending on the severity and what Your activity, the doctor will choose the type of surgery that is most appropriate for Your condition.
After the surgery, the doctor will usually require that You use protective boots. The goal is to help the healing and recovery of the ligaments and joints of Your feet.
In addition, rehabilitation is also an important part in the recovery process after surgery. The rehabilitation will probably take a few weeks or months until eventually You can run as before. All back on the level of injury and the number of operations that must be performed.
Prevention
What are some ways that can be done to prevent the occurrence of Sprains?
Even though You have to know what are the risk factors that exist and have prepared yourself as best as possible, accidents can still happen anytime and anywhere.
Therefore, you should follow the tips below to help reduce Your chances of experiencing a Sprain and keep the muscles to stay healthy:
1. Do warm up before sports
If You impose to do sports or activities which weight without warming up, it is very risky for Your joints.
Always do warming up and stretching, so that You are ready to undergo any activity.
2. Diligent exercise
Day with low intensity but consistently done every day will be much better than doing a strenuous activity one time a week.
This can help Your muscles more flexible and pliable, so it is more quickly recovered and stronger every day.
If You don't have time to exercise 30 minutes a day, divided into 3 sessions with 10 minutes in each session. You could also try to walk to the office, campus, or school.
3. Always be careful
If You walk in a slippery place, after the rain, the floor is wet, snowy ground, always walk with caution. Use shoes that are not too loose or tight, and do not walk in a hurry.
4. Select sports equipment
If You indeed love the sport and intend to do it seriously, You should also prepare the equipment. Better to invest in equipment and sports shoes are expensive and quality, making it more durable and safe to use.
If you have any questions, please consult with your doctor for the best solution to Your problem.