Many people get confused when it comes to knowing the difference between a strain and a sprain
. Although they can be treated in the same way both conditions are different. For example, a sprain is caused by overstretching or twisting the bodies ligaments. When you sprain your ligaments the area where the trauma happened will usually swell. A strain is a result of a trauma to either a tendon or muscle tissue. Both of these injuries are not life threatening but they can be very painful and need to be looked after to insure they heal quickly.
When it comes to treating a stain injury or sprain follow these tips:
You will need to take plenty of rest and as much as possible avoid putting pressure on the affected area. The most common part of the body for a strain or sprain is the legs especially, the ankles and the knees. If this is the case keep the affected area as still as possible. If it is serious you will probably need to apply a splint to keep the knee or ankle from moving around.
Soon after a strain you should apply the affected area with a cold surface such as an ice pack. Alternatively you could fill up a bucket or bath with water and ice. Ensure you do not apply the ice pack for too long. No more than 10 to 15 minutes. The coldness of the ice will help to reduce the amount of swelling of the affected area.
Another way to help reduce the swelling of your sprain or strain is to wrap the affected area with bandages or splints. This acts to apply pressure the strain and also help with reducing the pain and inflammation. It is important that you do not apply too much pressure to the affected area as you can restrict the blood flow. If in doubt contact your local doctor who will be able to give you more expert advice on to do it properly.
If you have strained or sprained your leg or ankle it is good practice to keep the injured area elevated off the ground while sitting for long periods. This enables an equal balance of blood flow through the body which can help reduce the risk of blood clots forming.
The recovery period will depend on the seriousness of the injury. After the injury has healed it is advisable that you rehabilitate the joints and ligaments to gradually get them back to normality.