A sprain occurs when the ligaments (strong connective tissues that keep bones together) of a joint are stretched or torn.
A physical therapist will help you restore motion to the injured muscle strains and sprian by laclinicasc. They also teach you how to prevent sprains in the future if you don’t get the proper treatment after spraining a joint its more likely to happen again.
Stretching
Stretching is an exercise that lengthens your muscles and increases their flexibility. Flexibility is essential for maintaining a healthy range of motion in your joints according to Harvard Medical School.
However, stretching can increase your risk of injury if it is not done correctly. To avoid this, warm up your muscles with light exercise before stretching.
Alternatively, stretch after your workout when they are warm this will also allow your muscles to release more quickly so you can find more movement in the position.
One of the most common mistakes people make when stretching is holding their breath while doing it. Holding your breath causes tension in the muscles which makes it harder to stretch.
Strengthening
Strengthening exercises help to build muscle power and can strengthen weakened muscles around a joint helping to prevent injuries in the future these exercises also help to restore motion in the injured joint.
A sprain is a stretching or tearing of the ligaments tough bands of tissue that connect two bones together in your joints most often in the ankle, knee or wrist. A sprain can be mild moderate or severe.
The severity of the sprain will determine how much physical therapy you need to recover. A physical therapist can teach you exercises and help you to use these exercises at home to keep the injury from getting worse.
Sprains can be caused by many factors, including environmental conditions, obesity, fatigue and poor footwear or equipment. Regular exercise and a balanced diet will help to reduce your risk of sprains.
Ice
The ice therapy technique is widely used to treat many acute injuries including sprains. It can help reduce swelling and pain by constricting blood vessels which inhibits inflammation.
Icing can also be harmful to the injury if not done correctly it can also slow healing decrease strength and flexibility and increase risk of re-injury.
Icing should be applied directly to the injured area and moved frequently not allowing it to sit in one spot. This prevents frostbite which can cause damage to the skin and tissues. Never ice for longer than 20 minutes at a time and allow the area to warm before applying ice again.
Compression
Sprains involve injury to a joints ligaments or joint capsule and can also affect tendons or muscles. The most common site for a sprain is the ankle but a sprain can occur anywhere in the body.
Physical therapy can help prevent and treat sprains by decreasing swelling pain and inflammation. It can also improve the speed of recovery by increasing blood flow.
A sprain usually takes days to months to heal depending on the degree of the injury and your general health. Treatment often includes ice heat and electrical stimulation along with therapeutic exercises to stretch and strengthen the affected joint.
Elevation
If you’ve ever experienced a foot or ankle sprain you know how difficult it can be to heal. Fortunately, rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE) can help relieve pain and swelling and promote healing and flexibility.
Using RICE as soon as possible after injury is a key component of your recovery and can help prevent recurrences of pain.
Elevating the injured limb above your heart for about 3-4 times a day can reduce swelling by making it harder for fluid to pool around the injury. This will help decrease the amount of pain and discomfort you feel when swollen tissue comes in contact with nerves that send signals to the brain.