Ankle Sprain is an injury or a form of stretching (strain) and / or tears (sprains) in muscles, tendons (tissue that connects muscle to bone) or ligaments (tissue that connects bones to other bones).

Ankle Sprain

Ankle sprain is one of the most common injuries in sports. Most sprains occur when the foot soles of feet suddenly turned into the (inversion) or out (eversion) when you walk, stumble, fall, or hit the ground after jumping. Wrist and dislocated elbow can also be due to lifting heavy objects in a way that is not true or prolonged repetitive movements of muscles and tendons.

Signs and Symptoms of Sprains

Muscle sprains are experiencing pain, swelling, bruising, and difficult to move. Sometimes you feel a tear when the injury occurred. However, signs and symptoms may vary according to the intensity of the sprain.

Ankle Sprain Treatment

Handling sprain that is suggested by the method abbreviated as “RICE”.

Rest

The period of the first 24-48 hours after injury are critical period so you need to limit your activities. Try not to move or put pressure on the affected joint. Often the use of a sling (sling), splint or crutches needed to rest his injured body part.

Ice

In the first 48 hours post-injury, attach a bag of ice on the sprain for 20 minutes every 3-4 hours. Do not put ice for more than 20 minutes at a time because it can cause tissue damage.

Compression

Use a bandage to wrap a sprained limbs. The bandage should be strong but still comfortable and do not cut off the circulation of blood to the limbs. If fingers or your toes become cold, blue, or tingling, you have to release the cuff and wrap over.

Elevate

Raise a sprained limbs exceed the height of your heart, if possible. You can do this by lying down and placing a pillow under your arm or leg injuries.

In addition to the four steps above, you can take pain medication to treat pain. Your doctor may prescribe stronger analgesics for severe pain. After symptoms subside, do light exercises to restore strength and mobility. For the case of severe sprains, surgery may be needed to repair the torn ligaments or muscles.

Prevention for Sprain

 The following steps can help you reduce the risk of sprained or strained:

  1. Warm up before exercise or strenuous activity.
  2. Wear protective pads or elastic joints when doing vigorous physical activity.
  3. Perform stretching exercises regularly to maintain the strength and flexibility of muscles and joints.
  4. Apply a healthy and balanced diet to keep muscles strong and maintaining an ideal body weight.
  5. Use safety measures to prevent falls (eg, the stairs, walkways, yards, and driveways free of objects that could create slippery slip).
  6. Wear shoes that fit. Replace the sports shoe soles worn in use so it is not flat.
  7. Avoid exercise or activity when tired or sick.
  8. Always choose walking on a flat surface.

Need consultation for your ankle sprain treatment? Our professional specialist, Dr. Kevin Yip, has more than 20 years experience. Be assured that you will be receiving professional treatments that suit your needs. Call us at (65) 66532628 or SMS at (65) 84998384. 

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