Symptoms
Initial treatment for a sprain or strain includes R.I.C.E. (rest, ice, compression, and elevation). Other treatment options may include: Activity restrictions Splint/cast Crutches/wheelchair Physical therapy (to stretch and strengthen the injured muscles, ligaments, and tendons)
Causes
In severe sprains, the ligaments can be partially or completely torn – sometimes leading to surgery. Treatment for sprains often involves rest and physical therapy. Appointments 216.444.2606. Appointments & Locations. Request an Appointment. Overview. Symptoms and Causes. Diagnosis and Tests. Management and Treatment.
Prevention
Mar 22, 2022 · Compress the area with an elastic wrap or bandage. Compressive wraps or sleeves made from elastic or neoprene are best. Elevate the injured limb above your heart whenever possible to help prevent or limit swelling. Sprains can take days to months to recover. As the pain and swelling improve, gently begin using the injured area.
Complications
Rest the sprained or strained area. If necessary, use a sling for an arm injury or crutches for a leg or foot injury. Splint an injured finger or toe by taping it to an adjacent finger or toe. Ice...
What is the healing time for a sprain?
Mar 14, 2022 · Initial treatment for a sprain typically involves resting and icing the injured area. In some cases, medicines are prescribed. Later, exercise and physiotherapy may be recommended. Although the information in this article is intended to be helpful, it should not be used as a substitute for medical advice.
How to heal a sprain?
The initial goal when treating a sprained or strained back is to reduce the pain and prevent spasms, or involuntary muscle contractions. One of the first steps you can take is to rest or modify your activities to give the affected tissues time to heal.
How do you treat a sprain?
What are the symptoms of a bad sprain?
What is the first treatment for sprain?
Rest: Rest the injured part until it's less painful. Ice: Wrap an icepack or cold compress in a towel and place over the injured part immediately. Continue for no more than 20 minutes at a time, four to eight times a day. Compression: Support the injured part with an elastic compression bandage for at least 2 days.
What is the proper treatment for strains and sprains?
The main treatment (first aid) for all sprains and strains is RICE: rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Home remedies may include over-the-counter pain relievers. Physical therapy or massage may also be prescribed.
What are two forms of treatment for a sprain?
Treatment for sprains often involves rest and physical therapy.Jul 28, 2020
Can sprains be treated at home?
Sprains and strains can usually be treated with home therapy using the RICE interventions. However, if the injury is more severe, your care provider may suggest splinting or casting to rest the injured joint.
What are 3 symptoms of a strain?
SymptomsPain or tenderness.Redness or bruising.Limited motion.Muscle spasms.Swelling.Muscle weakness.Sep 1, 2020
How do doctors treat muscle sprains?
Treatment may include anti-inflammatory medications and pain relievers to reduce pain and swelling. Your doctor may also prescribe physical therapy to help strengthen the muscle and restore movement. In very severe cases, surgery may be required to repair the muscle.
How do you know if something is sprained?
Some signs of a sprain are: Pain that is in the soft, "squishy" tissue over a bone rather than directly on the bone itself. You can usually put weight on it, even if it's painful. Swelling and bruising around the area.Jul 20, 2021
Which of the following home treatment is appropriate for sprain?
Ice: Apply cold to the ankle several times a day to help reduce pain and swelling. Compression: Apply a static or elastic compression bandage to help limit swelling. Elevation: Reduce the flow of blood and other fluids to the injury site by elevating the ankle above the heart.
How long does a sprain take to heal?
How long it takes for a sprain or strain to heal. After 2 weeks, most sprains and strains will feel better. Avoid strenuous exercise such as running for up to 8 weeks, as there's a risk of further damage. Severe sprains and strains can take months to get back to normal.
Do you put heat on a sprain?
Treatment for a Sprained Ankle So, typically, ice decreases blood flow to an area, which causes less swelling, whereas heat will bring blood flow to an area which can cause more swelling. Usually, in the first two to three days after an injury, we would recommend ice only.Jan 26, 2017
Is hot water good for sprained ankle?
Give your injured ankle a few days to recover after the initial injury. When the swelling goes down, you may want to warm your ankle before rehabilitation by soaking it in warm water. Warm tissues are more flexible, and less prone to injury.Aug 26, 2014
Do Xrays show sprains?
While a sprain will not show on an x-ray, the imaging can help rule out a broken ankle or foot bone. Persistent swelling: If you have swelling that doesn't go down after several days, an x-ray can reveal if there is something else going on, such as a bone fracture or fluid around a joint.
What is the treatment for a sprain?
Initial treatment for a sprain or strain includes R.I.C.E. (rest, ice, compression, and elevation). Other treatment options may include: Physical therapy (to stretch and strengthen the injured muscles, ligaments, and tendons)
How to determine if a sprain is a sprain?
Specific treatment for a sprain or strain will be determined by your physician based on: 1 Your age, overall health, and medical history 2 Extent of the injury 3 Your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies 4 Expectations for the course of the injury 5 Your opinion or preference
What to do if you have a torn ligament?
Surgery (especially if the injury is reoccurring or if a muscle, tendon, or ligament is badly torn) Be sure to consult your physician if there is a prolonged, visible deformity of the affected area, or if severe pain prevents use of arm, leg, wrist, ankle, or knee.
How quickly do contusions heal?
Contusions, sprains, or strains may heal quite quickly, depending on one's age. It is important that the patient adhere to the activity restrictions and/or stretching and strengthening rehabilitation programs to prevent re-injury.
How to prevent sprains in sports?
Regular stretching and strengthening exercises for your sport, fitness or work activity, as part of an overall physical conditioning program, can help to minimize your risk of sprains. Try to be in shape to play your sport; don't play your sport to get in shape.
What is a sprained ankle?
Sprained ankle. Sprained ankle. A sprained ankle is the stretching or tearing of ankle ligaments, which support the joint by connecting bones to each other . Signs and symptoms will vary, depending on the severity of the injury, and may include: Pain. Swelling.
What is the difference between a sprain and a strain?
The difference between a sprain and a strain is that a sprain injures the bands of tissue that connect two bones together, while a strain involves an injury to a muscle or to the band of tissue that attaches a muscle to a bone.
Where is the most common place for a sprain?
The most common location for a sprain is in your ankle.
What is the ligament that holds your ankle together?
Most ankle sprains involve injuries to the three ligaments on the outside of your ankle. Ligaments are tough bands of tissue that stabilize joints and help prevent excessive movement. An ankle sprain occurs when you roll, twist or turn your ankle in an awkward way. This can stretch or tear the ligaments that help hold your ankle bones together.
Where are growth plates located?
Children have areas of softer tissue, called growth plates, near the ends of their bones. The ligaments around a joint are often stronger than these growth plates, so children are more likely to experience a fracture than a sprain.
What causes a sprain in the knee?
Causes. A sprain occurs when you overextend or tear a ligament while severely stressing a joint. Sprains often occur in the following circumstances: Ankle — Walking or exercising on an uneven surface, landing awkwardly from a jump. Knee — Pivoting during an athletic activity.
How to heal a sprain?
An injury like a sprain requires a change in your normal routine to let the area heal. Ice: Apply an ice pack to the injured area for 10 minutes. Do this four to eight times a day. You can use a cold pack, ice bag or plastic bag filled with ice wrapped in a towel.
How to recover from a sprain?
The degree of sprain will determine the steps you will need to take in the recovery process. A physical therapist will work with you to regain strength and mobility in your joint. The therapist will teach you exercises, as well as give you a home exercise program, to prevent the injured joint from becoming stiff.
What is a sprain in the ankle?
Sprains of the Ankle, Knee and Wrist. Sprains are injuries where a ligament is stretched or torn within a joint. Common places you might have a sprain can include your ankle, knee and wrist. In severe sprains, the ligaments can be partially or completely torn – sometimes leading to surgery.
How to diagnose a sprain?
A sprain can be diagnosed in several ways, including: Through your doctor: Your doctor will take a history and do a physical exam to see if the history and exam are consistent with an injury to the joint which could have injured one or more ligaments.
What is a sprain in a ligament?
What is a sprain? A sprain happens when a ligament is stretched or torn. A ligament is a strong, fibrous band of rope-like tissue that connects two or more bones at a joint. When you have a sprain, you may have injured one or more ligaments.
What is a mild sprain?
Mild sprain: There is only a little stretching of the ligaments. Moderate sprain: There is a combination of stretching and a little tearing of the ligament. Severe sprain: There is a complete tear of the ligament.
What does it mean when you roll your ankle?
Rolling your ankle — either while running, changing direction or landing from a jump. Falling or slipping on a wet surface or uneven ground. Taking a blow to the body, including contact sports that cause a direct hit or a shift in balance and falls.
What to do if you have a sprain in your back?
Schedule an appointment or get emergency medical care for suspected sprains that don't respond to self-care strategies or that cause continued pain or instability. If your sprain is severe, you may be referred to a doctor who specializes in sports medicine or orthopedic surgery.
What is the best medicine for a sprained ankle?
In most cases, over-the-counter pain relievers — such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve, others) or acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) — are enough to manage the pain of a sprained ankle.
What does a physical exam for a foot injury look for?
During a physical, your doctor will examine your ankle, foot and lower leg. The doctor will touch the skin around the injury to check for points of tenderness and move your foot to check the range of motion and to understand what positions cause discomfort or pain.
How to heal a sprained ankle?
approach for the first two or three days: Rest. Avoid activities that cause pain, swelling or discomfort. Ice. Use an ice pack or ice slush bath immediately for 15 to 20 minutes and repeat every two to three hours while you're awake.
When is surgery performed on ankle?
In rare cases, surgery is performed when the injury doesn't heal or the ankle remains unstable after a long period of physical therapy and rehabilitative exercise. Surgery may be performed to:
How to stop swelling in ankle?
To help stop swelling, compress the ankle with an elastic bandage until the swelling stops. Don't hinder circulation by wrapping too tightly. Begin wrapping at the end farthest from your heart. Elevation. To reduce swelling, elevate your ankle above the level of your heart, especially at night.
How to restore ankle range of motion?
Therapy. Once the swelling and pain is lessened enough to resume movement, your doctor will ask you to begin a series of exercises to restore your ankle's range of motion, strength, flexibility and stability. Your doctor or a physical therapist will explain the appropriate method and progression of exercises.
How to reduce swelling after a sprain?
Ice the area. Use a cold pack, a slush bath or a compression sleeve filled with cold water to help limit swelling after an injury. Try to ice the area as soon as possible after the injury and continue to ice it for 15 to 20 minutes, four to eight times a day, for the first 48 hours or until swelling improves.
How long should you rest a sprained limb?
Rest the injured limb. Your doctor may recommend not putting any weight on the injured area for 48 to 72 hours, so you may need to use crutches. A splint or brace also may be helpful initially. But don't avoid all activity.
How to tell if a ligament is torn?
Get emergency medical assistance if: 1 You're unable to bear weight on the injured leg, the joint feels unstable or numb, or you can't use the joint. This may mean the ligament was completely torn. On the way to the doctor, apply a cold pack. 2 You develop redness or red streaks that spread out from the injured area. This may mean you have an infection. 3 You have pain directly over the bones of an injured joint. 4 You have re-injured an area that has been injured a number of times in the past. 5 You have a severe sprain. Inadequate or delayed treatment may contribute to long-term joint instability or chronic pain.
What is the most common type of sprain?
Ankle sprains are the most common type of sprain. Wrist, knee and thumb sprains are also common. Sprained ligaments often swell rapidly and are painful. Generally, the greater the pain and swelling, the more severe the injury is. For most minor sprains, you probably can start initial injury treatment yourself.
What to do if you have a swollen shin?
As the pain and swelling improve, gently begin using the injured area. You should feel a gradual, progressive improvement. Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), may be helpful to manage pain during the healing process.
How to treat a swollen limb?
If you use ice, be careful not to use it too long, as this could cause tissue damage. Compress the area with an elastic wrap or bandage. Compressive wraps or sleeves made from elastic or neoprene are best. Elevate the injured limb above your heart whenever possible to help prevent or limit swelling.
What does it mean when your leg is numb and you can't use it?
You're unable to bear weight on the injured leg, the joint feels unstable or numb, or you can't use the joint. This may mean the ligament was completely torn. On the way to the doctor, apply a cold pack.
How to treat a swollen limb?
Ice for 20 minutes every hour. Never put ice directly against the skin or it may damage the skin. Use a thin towel for protection. Compress by wrapping an elastic (Ace) bandage or sleeve lightly (not tightly) around the joint or limb.
What to do if you have a broken bone?
The doctor may need to immobilize the limb or joint with a splint, cast, or other device until healing is complete. Physical therapy can often be helpful to bring an injured joint back to normal.
What is the best medication for pain and inflammation?
Manage Pain and Inflammation. Give an over-the-counter NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) like ibuprofen ( Advil, Motrin ), acetaminophen ( Tylenol ), or aspirin. Do not give aspirin to anyone under age 19. 3.
How to control swelling in finger?
RICE stands for: Rest the sprained or strained area. If necessary, use a sling for an arm injury or crutches for a leg or foot injury. Splint an injured finger or toe by taping it to an adjacent finger or toe . Ice for 20 minutes every hour.
How to treat a sprained back?
The initial goal when treating a sprained or strained back is to reduce the pain and prevent spasms, or involuntary muscle contractions. One of the first steps you can take is to rest or modify your activities to give the affected tissues time to heal. With rest, you don’t want to overdo it, since too much inactivity can weaken spine-supporting tissues, increase the burden being directly placed on your spine, prolong symptoms, and delay recovery.
What is the best medication for swelling and pain?
Pain and swelling can also be managed with the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Over-the-counter options include ibuprofen and naproxen. However, you should be cautious with NSAIDs and avoid long-term reliance because of potential side effects.
What is back pain?
Most back pain is related to soft spine-supporting tissues that are irritated, inflamed, or overstretched. If ligaments are affected, it’s called a sprain. If muscles and tendons are affected, it’s a strain. For the purpose of this article, we’re going to focus on any type of soft tissue irritation, since many people use both terms interchangeably. Here’s what you need to know about treating this source of back pain.
