The term sprain typically refers to an extended muscle or a worn out tendon that fixes the muscles to the bones.
Sprain injuries are caused by the twisting of tendon tissues and normally set in all of a sudden. The normal symptoms of
sprain include inflammation, pain, muscle spasms, difficulty in flexing the muscles etc.
Ankle sprains occur when the foot turns or twists abruptly. Awkward jerks to the ankle caused while walking on uneven surfaces could also result in twisting the muscle tendons. The symptoms of ankle sprain include pain and inflammation of the ankle. Ankle
sprain treatment involves giving sufficient rest to the affected area, putting icepacks or wearing a binding to constrict the area. Medicines are found effective in reducing the pain and swelling. For severe ankle
sprain, exercise or physical therapy is also suggested at later stages. A high ankle sprain stretches the massive ligament of "sydesmotic ligament" that is located over the ankle. It connects the bones of tibia and fibula of the lower leg.
Knee
sprain refers to the injury of the tendons of the knee joint. Proper diagnosis is important as different ligament injuries require different treatments. For instance when injuries of anterior cruciate ligament of the knee require surgery, medial collateral ligament conditions rarely need surgical intervention and are well managed by medications alone.
Foot sprain is caused due to any injury caused to the fibrous tissue, which interconnect bones within a joint.
Sprains could be mild with minor tear or moderate in which the tendons might be torn to a great extent. In the case of severe foot
sprains the ligaments would be completely ripped apart making the foot unfit to carry the body weight. It is more common in sports persons.
Wrist sprain happens when the wrist tendons are stretched out abnormally. It is one of the common types of
sprains because in the event of a fall your innate impulse would be to put the hands out and the wrists take the whole body weight as you slump down. It might result in a severely twisted wrist that results in wrist pain.
Acute sprains of the neck muscles or injuries to the tendons causes cervical plexus sprain. Neck sprains are typically associated with road accidents. Sports persons are also susceptible to neck
sprains due to sudden jerks or snapping movements of the neck which might result in the tearing of tendons connecting the seven vertebrae of the neck region.
The recommended treatment for any
sprain is RICE, which translates into rest, ice, compression and elevation. Doctors also prescribe pain killers or NSAID including ibuprofen or Mortin to alleviate pain and inflammation.
