Treatments for Sprain

Treatment list for Sprain: The list of treatments mentioned in various sources for Sprain includes the following list. Always seek professional medical advice about any treatment or change in treatment plans.

• RICE - abbreviation for rest, ice, compression, elevation
  • Rest
  • Ice
  • Compression
  • Elevation
• Avoid bearing weight on joint
• NSAIDs
• Aspirin
• Ibuprofen
• Pain relief
• Analgesics
• Joint immobilization - in severe cases
  • Plaster case
• Surgical repair - to repair tendons in severe cases
• Rehabilitation and recovery treatments
  • Physical therapy
  • Specific exercises
  • Avoid bearing weight on joint - for some period of time

Treatments of Sprain discussion: When To See a Doctor for a Sprain

• You have severe pain and cannot put any weight on the injured joint.
  
  

• The area over the injured joint or next to it is very tender when you touch it.
  
  

• The injured area looks crooked or has lumps and bumps (other than swelling) that you do not see on the uninjured joint.
  
  

• You cannot move the injured joint.
  
  

• You cannot walk more than four steps without significant pain.
  
  

• Your limb buckles or gives way when you try to use the joint.
  
  

• You have numbness in any part of the injured area.
  
  

• You see redness or red streaks spreading out from the injury.
  
  

• You injure an area that has been injured several times before.
  
  

• You have pain, swelling, or redness over a bony part of your foot.
  
  

• You are in doubt about the seriousness of the injury or how to care for it.

Treatment for sprains and strains is similar and can be thought of as having two stages. The goal during the first stage is to reduce swelling and pain. At this stage, doctors usually advise patients to follow a formula of rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE) for the first 24 to 48 hours after the injury (see the box below ). The doctor may also recommend an over-the-counter or prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, to help decrease pain and inflammation.

For people with a moderate or severe sprain, particularly of the ankle, a hard cast may be applied. Severe sprains and strains may require surgery to repair the torn ligaments, muscle, or tendons. Surgery is usually performed by an orthopaedic surgeon.

It is important that moderate and severe sprains and strains be evaluated by a doctor to allow prompt, appropriate treatment to begin. The box above lists some signs that should alert people to consult their doctor. However, a person who has any concerns about the seriousness of a sprain or strain should always contact a doctor for advice.

Begin Rehabilitation

The second stage of treating a sprain or strain is rehabilitation, whose overall goal is to improve the condition of the injured part and restore its function. The health care provider will prescribe an exercise program designed to prevent stiffness, improve range of motion, and restore the joint's normal flexibility and strength. Some patients may need physical therapy during this stage.

When the acute pain and swelling have diminished, the health care provider or physical therapist will instruct the patient to do a series of exercises several times a day. These are very important because they help reduce swelling, prevent stiffness, and restore normal, pain-free range of motion. The health care provider can recommend many different types of exercises, depending on the injury. For example, people with an ankle sprain may be told to rest their heel on the floor and write the alphabet in the air with their big toe. A patient with an injured knee or foot will work on weight-bearing and balancing exercises. The duration of the program depends on the extent of the injury, but the regimen commonly lasts for several weeks.

Another goal of rehabilitation is to increase strength and regain flexibility. Depending on the patient's rate of recovery, this process begins about the second week after the injury. The health care provider or physical therapist will instruct the patient to do a series of exercises designed to meet these goals. During this phase of rehabilitation, patients progress to more demanding exercises as pain decreases and function improves.

The final goal is the return to full daily activities, including sports when appropriate. Patients must work closely with their health care provider or physical therapist to determine their readiness to return to full activity. Sometimes people are tempted to resume full activity or play sports despite pain or muscle soreness. Returning to full activity before regaining normal range of motion, flexibility, and strength increases the chance of reinjury and may lead to a chronic problem.

The amount of rehabilitation and the time needed for full recovery after a sprain or strain depend on the severity of the injury and individual rates of healing. For example, a moderate ankle sprain may require 3 to 6 weeks of rehabilitation before a person can return to full activity. With a severe sprain, it can take 8 to 12 months before the ligament is fully healed. Extra care should be taken to avoid reinjury.¹

Footnotes:
1. excerpt from Questions and Answers Sprains and Strains: NIAMS

Last revision: June 18, 2003

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