What is a sprain injury?
When a ligament is stretched or torn the injury is called a sprain. And the severity of a sprain injury depends on how much of this tissue is damaged as a result. Ligaments are thick bands of tissue that stabilize joints through their attachment to surrounding bone. They are positioned in such a way to allow for a limited range of joint movement in a specific direction.
Although any joint can be sprained, certain joints are more susceptible based on your activity. For example, an uneven surface lends itself to your ankle being rolled, turned or twisted in. This can cause the ligaments on the outside of your ankle to be overstretched. Because we all walk or run on uneven surfaces at various times, the ankle is the most common joint to sustain this injury.
Other frequently sprained joints are:
- wrist ~ fall, throwing sports
- neck (whiplash) ~ car accident
- fingers, thumb ~ fall, throwing sports
- knee ~ sports involving sudden changes in direction
Symptoms of Sprained Ligament
When a ligament is sprained the first symptom you’ll likely feel is pain and the joint may swell as well. Spasms can ensue as the surrounding muscles attempt to protect the injured joint. And weight bearing movement may produce a limping symptom because the joint is painful to use.
Sprain Treatment
Treating a sprain initially is via rest, ice, compression and elevation (RICE). Taking an anti inflammatory (ibuprofen, naproxen) helps reduce accompanying inflammation and a OTC pain reliever or acetaminophen helps combat the pain. A couple of days after your injury, heat or warm compress are other methods for controlling pain. For severe joint pain caused by an extreme sprain a health care provider may prescribe a stronger anti inflammatory or even narcotics. Physical therapy can help regain full range of motion and strength. While your sprain is healing, wearing a joint brace can provide stability and compression to make it feel better. And in some cases, treatment requires surgical repair of a badly stretched or torn ligament.
A sprain injury can take a long time to reach full recovery. However, keep the joint moving to ensure adequate circulatory delivery of nutrients for natural healing.