A Guide to Treating Strains and Sprains

Humans are prone to sprains and strains. No matter how careful you might be, getting yourself hurt is always a possibility. These sprains are certainly a pain—but the good part is they can be treated. If treated well early on, you won't even remember having it, and thus, there won't be a need to call a family practice physician.

a picture of feet on top of a roller skate


Turns out, sprains and strains are a pretty common phenomena in workspaces and an educational setup. Out of the 1.3 million injuries reported in hospitals, 43% were linked to sprains and strains. So the danger is always lurking and may even be unavoidable.

So what are the things that you can do as first aid to minimize the pain eventually get rid of them? Here is a quick guide:

 

Sprains and Strains

Remember, it's always ideal to go and see a senior care specialist if you feel severe pain or numbness at the sprained body part. These injuries tend to stay and leave their mark permanently, which can be costly in the future.

It is very common for children to hurt themselves while playing. According to statistics, around 3.5 million children of age 14 or under hurt themselves playing sports, physical games, or other activities. 

There is a range of symptoms of a sprain, including bruising, inflammation, and swelling. Symptoms of a strain may include muscle ruptures and pain.

 

How to Treat Them

Here are a few of the things that you can do as first aid for these injuries:


The R.I.C.E Method

The RICE method has proven to be effective in preventing swelling as a result of sprains. Swelling is the cause behind the pain that you feel in the sprained part of your body. Swelling puts pressure on your sprained nerves which, as a result, increases the pain.

putting bandage of a sprained knee


R.I.C.E method can be broken down into four activities.

· Rest the damaged area so that there's minimum to no need to move it till the pain is settled down.

· Ice the sprained part for at least 20 minutes. The key is to use a thin towel and rub it gently on the skin.

· Compress the damaged area. Wrap the joints of your limbs with an elastic sleeve to provide support.

· Elevate the area. Now, this is tricky—you need to lift the sprained part above heart level to control blood circulation to minimize swelling.

Schedule a Checkup with Family Practice Specialists

The idea here is to limit the blood flow to the swelled area. This can be achieved by applying constant pressure on the injury and avoiding any physical activities. If the swelling doesn't stop, call your family practice physician.

Natomas Family Practice is a healthy physical specialist in Sacramento that provides expert medical care to children and families.

Visit them for urgent care services in Sacramento or Contact their office to book an appointment.

 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Menstrual Cramps — Is It Time to Seek Treatment?

Busting 7 Common Myths about Vaccines

Expert Tips to Reduce Body Fat in Two Weeks