Sprains - How Can You Take Care Of Them?

The tissue which connects bones to a joint is called a ligament. When a ligament is torn or stretched beyond the usual limit due to any kind of injury, the condition is referred to as a sprain. A sprain also occurs when the fibers of ligaments are partially torn. A ligament provides support and stability to your bones. It takes about six weeks to heal a sprained ankle or a sprained wrist. A sprain injury should not be ignored as it may become a chronic problem.

Whenever an area of your body suffers a sprain, it must be compressed with crushed ice or ice cubes. If there is no ice, then the affected area must be compressed with chilled water bags, which are advised to be kept until the pain is reduced. The ice therapy should be given as soon as possible in order to avoid internal bleeding and accumulation of fluid in the injured area. You can use bags of frozen vegetables as a substitute for ice. Put some salt on the ice you have kept in a ziplock bag. Salt helps in lowering the freezing point of ice and prevents melting soon.

Knee sprains are most common among the footballers. There are four ligaments in knees that help it in stretching or bending and even act as a hinge joint. Neck sprains are usually caused due to a car accident when the ligaments supporting the bones of cervical vertebrae are torn. Wrists can also suffer from a sprain, and it is common among the players of basketball, tennis, cricket (spinners) and other throwing sports. A sprained part should be kept at complete rest until you visit a doctor.

Wearing a brace gives support and protection to the joint of the sprained area. It is usually worn by the athletes who are into basketball or tennis or any other sport, which involves a rigorous movement of the arms or wrists. Wearing a brace in case of an ankle or wrist sprain speeds up the healing process as the movement of the affected area is restricted. If you are prone to sprain injuries, it is advisable to wear braces before doing rigorous activities.