Sprains (sprains): symptoms, causes, to treatment

Definition

What are sprains (sprains)?

Sprains or sprains are injuries that occur in the tissue that connects bones to joints. Usually, these injuries are the result of a twisted and torn ligament.

Ligaments are tough fibrous tissues located in your joints. The function of ligaments is to bind and connect one bone to another. Ligaments help stabilize the movement of the joint, so that the joint does not make excessive movement.

Sprains most commonly occur in the ankle. However, sprains can also occur in the knees, hands, or fingers. This condition can cause muscle pain, swelling, bruising, and decreased ability to move.

Foot sprains or sprains generally affect the ligaments on the outer part of the ankle. Injuries range from mild to severe, depending on how damaged the ligament was injured.

Treatment and treatment for ankle injuries depends on the severity. Although you can generally treat this condition with drugs available in pharmacies, sometimes you need further medical examinations to get the best treatment.

How common are sprains (sprains)?

Sprains or injuries are very common conditions. Sprains can affect anyone of any age group.

However, people who have had an injury before are more prone to getting injured at other times. In addition, physical conditions that rarely move and are inflexible increase a person's risk of injury.

Athletes and children who frequently participate in sports activities are also prone to this condition, especially if they do not warm up or stretch sufficiently before doing activities.

Sprains or sprains are conditions that can be prevented by recognizing and knowing the risk factors that exist. For more information regarding sprains, you can consult your doctor.

Signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of sprains (sprains)?

The symptoms or signs of a sprain can vary. Usually this depends on the severity of the injury. Here are common signs and symptoms of sprains or sprains:

• Pain.
• Swollen.
• Bruises.
• The injured area becomes stiff and difficult to move.
• Decreased muscle function.
• The pain increases when the injured area is moved.

There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about a particular symptom, consult your doctor.

When to see a doctor?

If the pain you are experiencing due to the sprain is minor, you can treat it independently at home. However, injuries that cause sprains have the potential to cause more severe injuries, such as fractures.

Therefore, you need to see a doctor if:

• Inability to move or feel weight on the area of ​​the body that is injured.
• Pain in the joint area that is injured can be felt to the bone.
• Numbness in the area that has been sprained.

Everyone's body shows a variety of signs and symptoms. To get the right treatment and according to the severity of your injury, always consult a doctor.

What are the complications that can be caused by sprains?

If you fall and have a sprain, treat it immediately with home remedies or see a doctor. Sprains that are not treated promptly can lead to several complications, such as:

• Chronic muscle aches or pains.
• Chronic problems in joints.
• Arthritis of the joints.

Cause

What causes sprains (sprains)?

Common causes of sprains are falls, slips, accidents, or trauma to a joint.

These movements cause your joints to move beyond their normal range. This condition causes the ligament to stretch or tear.

Here are a few things that can cause your ligaments to stretch and tear:

• Athletic or sports activities, such as running and jogging.
• Accident.
• Fall or slip.
• Too push yourself to lift heavy weights.
• Use your hands as support when you fall.
• Standing or sitting in the wrong position.
• Doing repetitive movements for a long time.
• Trampled feet.
• Physical activity on rough surfaces.

Risk factors

What increases the risk of sprains (sprains)?

Anyone from any age group, race, or gender can experience sprains. However, there are several risk factors that can increase your potential for sprains.

Having one or more risk factors does not mean you will definitely experience this condition. In some cases of sprains, there are also people who sprains or sprains even though they have no risk factors at all.

The following are risk factors that can trigger sprains or sprains, namely:

1. Actively participating in sports activities

Sports such as football, basketball, tennis and running involve a lot of body movement. If you or your child is an athlete or on a particular sports team, your risk of getting injured, especially to the ligaments of the leg, is higher.

2. The body is disproportionate

If you have a disproportionate body shape, such as being overweight or obese, your muscles and joints will become weaker. This has the potential to affect body movement and trigger sprains.

3. Using improper sports equipment

Old or problematic exercise equipment can increase your chances of getting injured. Therefore, wear shoes and equipment that are suitable for the type of sport you are doing.

4. Not warming up

One of the fatal things that not everyone does before exercising is warming up. Warming up and cooling down can help stretch your muscles and increase flexibility.

Without warming up before exercise, your risk of getting injured is even higher.

5. The body is tired

When your body is tired, your legs can't hold your weight properly. This condition puts you at greater risk of sprained or sprained legs.

6. Environment

If you walk in a place that is slippery, wet, or rough, you may slip or fall. Your chances of having a sprained or sprained foot are even greater.

Diagnosis & treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

How to diagnose sprains?

When you experience symptoms that are serious enough, immediately get the sprained body checked by the nearest doctor.

The doctor will diagnose the area that is sprained or sprained by examining the area, either your foot, hand, or finger. During the examination, the doctor will try to move the joint in various ways.

This physical exam may be painful and uncomfortable. The goal is to determine the maximum joint movement, the presence of pain, tenderness, weakness, or instability in the area of ​​the sprain.

After examining the area, the doctor will recommend several types of tests to determine the degree or degree of injury to the sprain. Here are the levels:

• First level (light): pain and swelling in the joints lighter, movement is still stable.
• Second level (moderate): moderate pain and swelling, accompanied by bruising and instability when moving.
• Third degree (severe): more pain, swelling, and bruising, unstable joints, and torn ligaments.

Here are some of the types of tests that doctors usually recommend:

1. X-ray

In the X-ray process, your body will be given a small beam of radiation to produce images of your ankle bone. This test is to make sure your bones are in good condition and rule out fractures.

2. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

An MRI test uses radio waves and a strong magnetic field to produce 3-dimensional images. This image can show the structure of the ankle and the tissues therein, including ligaments.

3. CT scan

A CT scan can show more detailed images of your joints. CT scans are combined with X-rays to produce 3-dimensional images from various angles.

4. Ultrasound

An ultrasound test uses sound waves to produce images. Doctors use this test to help check the condition of ligaments or muscles when the leg is in a different position during the sprain.

How to treat sprains (sprains)?

Generally, the way a sprain is treated depends on its severity. The treatment is aimed at relieving muscle pain, swelling, restoring torn ligaments, and restoring the function of certain body parts after a sprain.

If your sprain is severe enough, you may be referred to a specialist or orthopedist. Further treatment such as hospitalization or surgery may be given.

1. Home remedies

According to the Mayo Clinic, to treat muscle injuries at home, you can try the four easy steps often referred to as the RICE method (rest, ice, compression, elevation). Do this treatment in the first few days.

• Rest (rest)

Avoid activities that involve too much movement. Rest the affected body part, be it a hand, foot, or finger, for at least 48 hours.

• Ice (ice)

Use ice pack or apply ice to the area for 15 to 20 minutes. Repeat this step every 2 or 3 hours while you are awake. However, if you have diabetes, consult your doctor before using this method.

• Compression (compress)

To help relieve swelling, wrap a bandage on the affected area. Make sure you don't tie it too tight.

• Elevation

Swelling can also be treated by positioning the injured body part higher than the location of your heart. Do this while you are sitting or lying down, especially when you sleep at night. Gravity can help heal swelling by draining excess fluid in the area.

2. Medicines

In some cases, you can take medication to help relieve pain from the sprain.

Some of the medicines to treat sprains that you can try are:

• Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB).
• Naproxen sodium (Aleve).
• Acetaminophen (Tylenol).
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Aspirin).
• Aspercreme.

3. Help tools

Depending on the severity of the sprain, your doctor may also suggest that you use bandages, sports tape, or bandages brace that is attached or used to help you reduce pain. It is hoped that this will help stabilize the movement of the body part that has suffered the muscle injury.

4. Physical therapy

As the swelling gets better, you will need to do some healing exercises to prevent stiffness, increase strength, and prevent any chronic problems that may arise. Each therapist has its own exercises to help work on your balance and stability.

In most cases, surgery for ankle injuries is rarely performed. Surgery is only needed for sprains that don't get better despite medical treatment and medication.

Depending on the severity and what your activities are, your doctor will choose the most appropriate type of surgery for your condition.

After surgery, the doctor will usually require that you use boots protector. Its purpose is to aid in healing and restoring the ligaments and joints of your feet.

Apart from that, rehabilitation is also an important part of the recovery process after surgery. Rehabilitation may take several weeks or months for you to finally be able to walk normally. All returned to the level of injury and the number of operations that had to be performed.

Prevention

What are the ways that can be done to prevent sprains (sprains)?

Even though you already know what the risk factors are and have prepared yourself as well as possible, accidents can still happen anytime and anywhere.

Therefore, you should follow the tips below to help reduce your chances of experiencing sprains and keep your muscles healthy:

1. Warm up before exercise

If you insist on doing strenuous sports or activities without warming up, it is very risky for your joints.

Always warm up and stretch, so that you are ready for any activity.

2. Exercise regularly

Doing low-intensity but consistent activities every day is much better than doing strenuous activities once a week.

This can help your muscles become more flexible and supple, so they heal faster and stronger each day.

If you don't have time to exercise 30 minutes a day, divide it into 3 sessions with 10 minutes each. You can also try walking to work, college, or school.

3. Always be careful

When you walk in slippery places, after rain, wet floors, snowy ground, always walk with caution. Use shoes that are not too loose or too narrow, and don't walk in a hurry.

4. Choose good exercise equipment

If you really like sports and intend to do it seriously, then you have to prepare the equipment. Better to invest in expensive, quality sports equipment and shoes, so they are more durable and safer to use.

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.