How to help with sprains

Anyone can injure a knee or an entire leg, especially during sudden movements, falls or during sports. Any sport can cause injury. Injuries are understood as sprains, dislocations of the joint, fractures.

The most harmless type of such injuries is the sprain of the ligamentous apparatus. Sprain treatment is carried out for a long time, during which it is better to immobilize the sore leg or arm. To shorten the rehabilitation period, you need to know how to help with sprains.

Read on estet-portal.com about first aid for sprains and cases when a traumatological examination is required.

A brief about sprains

Bundles – these are connective tissues that serve as a link between the bones (skeleton) and the joint. They do not allow the joint to loosen, keep it within limits and allow it to move with a certain amplitude in the correct physiological position. More often, the ligaments of the ankle or knee joints are stretched.

Sprain – this is a rupture of the connective tissue, which cannot perform further joint control functions. Rupture of ligaments at the microscopic level – this is a mild stretch. The rupture of individual fibers entails an average degree of injury. Rupture of ligaments in the joint leads to severe injury to the joint.

A sprain is accompanied by severe pain. This is due to the presence of many nerve endings on the ligaments, which let you know that a rupture has occurred. In addition to pain, there is local swelling when stretched, and hematoma or bruising.

If the ligaments are completely torn, when moving in the joint, you can hear popping, grinding and other sounds that characterize tissue rupture. In this case, emergency medical care is needed for sprains: splinting, injections with painkillers and other methods.

Read also: Ankle sprain: what you need for a quick recovery

Algorithm for helping with sprains

During a sprain, you should clearly understand what you need to do on your own, and when you should seek help from a medical institution. If the sprain is mild to moderate, help may be sought after first aid or a day after pain relief. In case of severe injury, an ambulance should be called immediately.

First aid for sprains:

1. Cool the joint by applying ice to the injured area.
2. Apply a tight bandage or elastic bandage. The joint should be fixed so that the ligaments do not tear further. It is necessary to fix with an average density to ensure normal blood circulation.
3. After fixing the joint, apply ice in a bag for 20 minutes to relieve inflammation and swelling, and reduce pain.
4. If there is a suspicion of a complete rupture of the ligaments, a splint should be applied: from boards, plywood, rulers on both sides, fix the joint and bandage it.
5. If bruising occurs, elevate the joint to reduce blood flow and bruising.
6. Keep the joint calm and immobile.

How to properly adjust an elastic bandage

If an ankle sprain occurs, it should be flexed 90 degrees and bandaged. First, wrap the bandage around the lower part of the shin, then make an oblique hook from the ankle to the ball of the little finger. Next, wrap the foot around the toes, moving from the thumb towards the outer ankle. Finish wrapping around the lower leg. Take a few minutes to evaluate the degree of density. If you feel tingling and slight numbness, you should loosen the bandage.  

When you need to call for medical help

1. Pain when moving the joint and it is impossible to stand on the affected leg.
2. If red or purple spots appear on the affected area, increasing over time. This may mean an infection.
3. In case of a sprain in a place that has already been injured.
4. If the pain and swelling does not go away after 2 days.

In these cases, you should seek help from an emergency room or a surgeon and a traumatologist. Your doctor will order an x-ray to look for a fracture. The specialist will recommend which ointments or gels can be used to eliminate bruising, swelling, pain. It may be necessary to use other medications (antibiotics) in case of infection and other complications.