The sprained ankle, also known as strain is an injury to a joint, usually the ankle or the knee, also the wrist, the thumb... The injury is caused by the distortion of the joint.
The distortion causes a stretched or torn ligaments. The sprain is called 'benign' if there is a stretching of ligaments. It is called 'serious' when there is rupture of ligaments.
The sprain comes after a misstep, especially among the elderly, while playing a sport or in an automobile accident.
A sharp pain is felt at the time of the sprain. The joint swells. A bruise (hematoma) appears when small blood vessels around the joint is broken, the area turns blue.
The sharp pain can be relieved by using cold water or ice in a bag. Do not massage or apply heat, this can increase the pain and even cause bleeding.
In athletes, the lack of a warm-up or a large muscle fatigue promotes sprain. A good shoe according to the activity reduces the risk of sprain. In the elderly, whose bones are more fragile, the distortion of a joint can cause a broken bone.
The doctor may, by examination, determining whether it is a sprain and not a fracture.
A sprain usually takes a few days to heal. It is to immobilize the affected joint, sometimes requiring the aid of a splint. The doctor suggests to raise the foot a few hours a day in order to improve circulation. It can happen, especially among athletes, that surgery is necessary following a severe sprain.
The strain differs from the dislocation, which is the displacement of a bone in his joint.
21 mai 2010
| The text above is for information purposes only. Only a doctor can diagnose a disease. No treatment (medication or scheme) should be undertaken without consulting a health professional. |