A sprain is an over-stretching of one's connective tissue holding a joint together. Sprains are normal injuries, particularly in the wrist and ankle. Athletes are particularly susceptible to sprains. In tennis, a player stretches his / her leg too far for a passing ball. A rolled ankle in a run could sprain an ankle. They are normal cases. Lots of people injure themselves starting a fresh fitness routine too quickly, too. Enthusiasm is nice, but one should be careful. Injuries aren't confined to sports, though. A fall or simply a misstep can just as easily result in a damaging joint twist.
Sprains are that much easier to understand - and therefore avoid - if we get to know our joints a little better. Any part of our skeleton that allows movement is a joint. The movement is allowed by ligaments, connective tissues that bind different bones together. They are designed to take some amount of stretching in day to day activities. When they cannot bear the excessive stretching, however, a sprain occurs.
The symptoms are pain, followed by swelling and bruising of the damaged joint. A serious sprain may also make a popping sound. Mobility could be impaired, at any time after the injury. There are several tools for checking for sprains. An x-ray will often be used first to check for broken bones. In serious cases, doctors may use an MRI to check for ligament tears or ruptures.
The first line of treatment is to STOP the movement to avoid further damage to the ligament. Sit tight until help arrives. Trying to reach medical attention all by yourself you will do more damage than taking rest. It's especially important to be careful with sprains of the ankles and knees. Ice - either as a bag of ice or a cold pack - is also an important step to preventing painful swelling. It is possible to over-use ice, though. Make sure to allow the joint to warm to allow healing.
Compression with a wrap will help to reduce pain and give support to the affected part. While firm compression is helpful to the injured joint, it's also important not to cut off circulation. Loss of circulation can be just as damaging as the sprain itself. Elevating the damaged joint will also stop some of the swelling.
Common sprains are cured with some rest and external pain relievers, but some sprains contracted on sports activities are really of serious nature. In a game like rugby, when there is a sprain to the knee and the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is injured, there is a risk of disability.
Like rest, it is important to exercise the affected joint as soon as possible to regain the strength of the joint. There may be a bracing or taping at the affected joint for support, but to get back the normal movement and strength it is important to give exercise the joint after a sprain as per to the advice of the medical personnel.
Sprains are that much easier to understand - and therefore avoid - if we get to know our joints a little better. Any part of our skeleton that allows movement is a joint. The movement is allowed by ligaments, connective tissues that bind different bones together. They are designed to take some amount of stretching in day to day activities. When they cannot bear the excessive stretching, however, a sprain occurs.
The symptoms are pain, followed by swelling and bruising of the damaged joint. A serious sprain may also make a popping sound. Mobility could be impaired, at any time after the injury. There are several tools for checking for sprains. An x-ray will often be used first to check for broken bones. In serious cases, doctors may use an MRI to check for ligament tears or ruptures.
The first line of treatment is to STOP the movement to avoid further damage to the ligament. Sit tight until help arrives. Trying to reach medical attention all by yourself you will do more damage than taking rest. It's especially important to be careful with sprains of the ankles and knees. Ice - either as a bag of ice or a cold pack - is also an important step to preventing painful swelling. It is possible to over-use ice, though. Make sure to allow the joint to warm to allow healing.
Compression with a wrap will help to reduce pain and give support to the affected part. While firm compression is helpful to the injured joint, it's also important not to cut off circulation. Loss of circulation can be just as damaging as the sprain itself. Elevating the damaged joint will also stop some of the swelling.
Common sprains are cured with some rest and external pain relievers, but some sprains contracted on sports activities are really of serious nature. In a game like rugby, when there is a sprain to the knee and the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is injured, there is a risk of disability.
Like rest, it is important to exercise the affected joint as soon as possible to regain the strength of the joint. There may be a bracing or taping at the affected joint for support, but to get back the normal movement and strength it is important to give exercise the joint after a sprain as per to the advice of the medical personnel.
About the Author:
James K Zane is a fitness and health enthusiast. To improve the enjoyment of physical activity for everyone, he has collected a website about sprains here. Follow this link to learn the answer to What is a sprain?.