A sprain happens when a ligament is stretched beyond its limits. Sprains are a very common kind of joint injury with many thousands of individuals seeking treatment for new injuries each day. Sprains are particularly common in sports. In tennis, a player stretches his or her leg too far to reach for a passing ball. You could set a foot wrong while running. These include normal athletic injuries. You'll need to be extra careful beginning an workout regime, too. The ligaments aren't accustomed to the load. Everyday living can be just as packed with hazards. Reaching to the top shelf or twisting an ankle heading down some steps are equally likely to produce a sprain.
To understand sprains better, a little peep into our joints will be of great help. A joint is anywhere two bones come together. They are held together by elastic fibers called ligaments. Ligaments allow a certain amount of flexibility and stretching. But when they cannot bear the excessive stretching, a sprain occurs.
Pain is the first sign of a sprain, followed shortly after by swelling of the damaged joint. A severe sprain may also make a sharp sound at the time of injury. Mobility may also be impaired, either immediately or shortly 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 more severe cases, doctors may use an MRI to check for evidence of serious ligament damage.
After a sprain, it's important to allow the joint to rest for a short time. This is to prevent further injury. If at all possible, wait for help where you are. Attempting first aid by yourself could do more damage than just resting a bit. Particularly in a sprained ankle or knee, it's especially important to keep your weight off the injury. Ice - a bag of ice or a cold pack - is also an important step to stopping the onset of swelling. But do take care to see that it should be kept to a minimum to facilitate 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. Always follow the advice of medical experts, however, or you could risk additional joint damage. Exercise a sprain as slowly and carefully as necessary for the best results.
To understand sprains better, a little peep into our joints will be of great help. A joint is anywhere two bones come together. They are held together by elastic fibers called ligaments. Ligaments allow a certain amount of flexibility and stretching. But when they cannot bear the excessive stretching, a sprain occurs.
Pain is the first sign of a sprain, followed shortly after by swelling of the damaged joint. A severe sprain may also make a sharp sound at the time of injury. Mobility may also be impaired, either immediately or shortly 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 more severe cases, doctors may use an MRI to check for evidence of serious ligament damage.
After a sprain, it's important to allow the joint to rest for a short time. This is to prevent further injury. If at all possible, wait for help where you are. Attempting first aid by yourself could do more damage than just resting a bit. Particularly in a sprained ankle or knee, it's especially important to keep your weight off the injury. Ice - a bag of ice or a cold pack - is also an important step to stopping the onset of swelling. But do take care to see that it should be kept to a minimum to facilitate 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. Always follow the advice of medical experts, however, or you could risk additional joint damage. Exercise a sprain as slowly and carefully as necessary for the best results.
About the Author:
James K Zane is a fitness and health enthusiast. To enhance physical activity for everyone, he has collected a website about sprains here. Click on this link to learn the answer to What is a sprain?.
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