How to Treat a Sprain

When you sprain a joint, it is the ligament that receives injury from getting excessively stretched. The ligaments in our bodies are strong, elastic-like bands joined to the bones, that keep one's joints in place. They perform the function of stabilizing joints and thus prevent too much movement. When the joint is put in such a position that the ligament is extended beyond its normal range of motion, then it gets sprained. Depending on the severity of the injury, the ligament may have small tears in it or could even be entirely torn apart. The joints of our body most likely to get sprained are those of the ankle or knee. A sprain can occur just from the joint rolling, twisting or turning at an awkward angle. Sprains can often be treated at home, so knowing how to treat a sprain will enable you to take care of a minor injury but if there is no improvement, then medical assistance must be sought.

Sprain Symptoms
Sprains cause pain, swelling and bruising of the injured joint. If the injury is mild, one may only experience pain during movement. However, a serious sprain will make it difficult or impossible to move the given joint and it may even become instable. Some may feel or hear a "pop" when they get injured. Read more on joint pain.

Sprain Treatment
Treatment for a sprain depends on the severity of the injury. If the sprain is mild, this is how to treat a sprain at home.

• Protect: It is very important to ensure that the injured joint is not exposed to any further strain that will surely aggravate the situation. Avoid using the joint and minimize pressure on it by using splints to crutches.
• Rest: The sprained joint must be given as much rest as possible. However, one is not advised against all activity, for the rest of the muscles of your body should not get deconditioned. You can continue to do arm exercises or even leg exercises, provided you use only the uninjured leg. An example of this is exercising one leg on an exercise cycle. This will prevent you from regressing if you are following a specific exercise routine with the aim of gaining or losing weight or in preparedness for playing a sports match.
• Ice: Cold therapy works well to help control and reduce swelling. As soon as possible after the injury, hold an ice pack against the injured area for about 15 to 20 minutes at a time. However, be careful not to use it for longer as this can result in tissue damage. You could use a bag of frozen vegetables as an ice pack or a slush bath. Ice must not be applied directly to the skin.
• Compress: Apply compression to the injured joint to stop swelling. You could use an elastic bandage but ensure that you do not wrap the joint so tight as to cut off circulation. When you wrap the injured joint, start at the end farthest from your heart (for example, for the ankle, start wrapping near the toes). If you find the pain increasing, numbness setting in, or the surrounding areas swelling up, then loosen the wrap.
• Elevate: Another way to reduce swelling is by keeping the injured joint above the level of your heart. So if you have an ankle sprain, lie on the bed and prop your foot up on pillows. This enables the excess fluid to drain away, thus bringing down the swelling. Read more on sprains & strains.

This information on how to treat a sprain should equip you with the immediate care you need to take after an injury. You could supplement these efforts with over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) and acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) if required. However, if the ligament is torn, these steps will not help and you need emergency medical assistance. Severe pain, inability to use the joint, instability, fever and no improvement within two days, point towards a ligament tear, in which case you should consult a doctor or preferably an orthopedic.