Health Guide©

SPRAIN (Sports injuries)

Immediate intervention of sprain includes elevating the injured joint and applying ice. The joint may be immobilized by splinting, casting, or taping. Immobilization may continue from three to four weeks. Casting helps approximate the ligaments ends and alleviates pain. A mature scar forms in connective fibrous tissue in four to six weeks. Following complete healing, the person needs a carefully planned exercise program.

Sprain can unexpectedly happen to anybody no matter how cautious we are. This is usually suffered by the athletes as a result of their quick moves or accident. Injuries are usually psychosocially as well as physically traumatic. The severity or extent of a sprain may not be apparent. Disability may not be very severe initially, but may be extensive after two to three hours. Person may vary their outlook or acceptance depending of the knowledge they have about sprain. With severe sprains the person may say the joint feels loose or like "something coming apart," The person may describe what feels like a snap, pop, or tearing. This usually indicates severe injury. The amount of swelling also indicate severity. Following a sprain injury, tenderness to palpation develops, which is well localized at first and later become more diffuse. Other assessment findings include swelling, severe pain, discoloration, decreased motion (limited joint motion and function), and disability. X-ray study may show soft tissue swelling but no evidence of bone or joint injury.

A sprain is torn ligaments, a tough, and elastic band of tissues connecting a joint. The area around the affected joint becomes swollen and painful, worsening when the joint is moved. Sprains occur most often in the ankles, wrist, fingers, and knees. In some cases, bone dislocation or fracture (broken bone) is mistaken for a severe sprain. Sprains may be mild (grade 1), moderate (grade 2) or severe (grade 3). When in doubt, therefore, treat the injury as a fracture.

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