Introduction
Muscles
contract and relax to help your body move. So a strain is exactly
what it sounds like: a muscle that has been stretched too far.
It is common for people to strain the muscles in their backs,
necks, or legs.
Bones
meet at joints, such as elbows, knees, or shoulders. That is
where your body bends and rotates. Strong, elastic bands of
tissue, called ligaments, hold bones together in the joints.
A sprain happens when those ligaments have been overstretched
or torn. Ankles, wrists, and knees sprain easily.
Distinctions Between Strain And Sprain
Even
though both can hurt a lot, strains are not as serious as sprains.
Because a strain is pain in the muscle, it may start to hurt
immediately or several hours later. The area will be tender
and swollen and may also appear bruised.
A
sprain will probably start to hurt right away. Usually the injury
will swell and look bruised, it may be hard to walk or move
the injured part, and you may even think you have broken a bone.
Occurence Of Strain Or Sprain
Strains
often happen when you put a lot of pressure on a muscle or you
push it too far, such as when lifting a heavy object. Strains
may be more likely to happen if you have not warmed up first
to get blood circulating to the muscles. They are also common
for someone returning to a sport after the off-season. That
first time playing softball after a long winter off might lead
to a strained calf or thigh muscle.
Sprains
are caused by injuries, such as twisting your ankle. This kind
of injury is common in sports, but can also happen any time
you trip or fall.
What Should You Do if You Get a Strain or Sprain?
Stop!
That's the word to remember if you get a strain or sprain. Don't
use the part of your body that's hurt. That means not walking
on a hurt ankle or using a hurt arm. Tell a grown-up right away
so he or she can get you to a doctor, if necessary.
It
can be hard to tell the difference between a sprain and a broken
bone, so it's often a good idea to see a doctor. In some cases,
you might need to go to the emergency department.
Check-Up With The Doctor
First,
a doctor will look at your injury. He or she may gently touch
the area, check the color, feel if your skin is warm or cold,
and look for swelling and tenderness. If you hurt your ankle,
your doctor might ask to see if you can stand on it. In some
cases, the doctor will order an X-ray to tell if the bone is
broken.
If
you have a sprain, the doctor will probably have you wear a
splint or temporary cast to support and protect the injured
area. He or she may wrap the injury with an elastic bandage
to reduce swelling and provide extra support.
If
you have a strain, the doctor will probably tell you to rest
the injury and maybe take some pain medication.
What Should You Do Now?
It
is very important to follow the doctor's instructions. Here
are some steps in taking care of your injury:
-
Rest the injured part of the body.
-
Apply ice or cold packs to the injury. This helps bring
down swelling, so the injured area will be less puffy.
-
Wear an elastic compression (say: kum-preh-shun) bandage
or splint. Compression means to apply or press something
together. When an injury is wrapped firmly, the pressure
prevents and decreases swelling (puffiness).
-
Elevate, or raise, the injured part so it's higher than
your heart. You can use pillows to raise it up. This also
prevents swelling.
After
a day, it is advisable to use warm compresses or a heating pad
to soothe aching muscles. Take any pain medications that have
been ordered by your doctor.
A
strain takes about a week to heal. A bad sprain may take longer
- as long as three to four weeks to heal or sometimes even longer.
While your strain or sprain heals, take it easy and do not do
stuff that could cause another injury.
If
you have visited the doctor for your injury, you may have a
follow-up visit to make sure everything is healing just right.
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