About Sprain

A sprain is an injury of the ligaments that attach muscles to the bone. Ligaments are located at every joint in the body. A sprain occurs when the ligament is extended beyond its capacity. A sprain can affect any ligament in the body.

Significance

• Understanding a sprain is important so you can obtain the proper care for the injury. It is also beneficial to learn how to prevent a sprain by using protective gear when participating in high-risk activities such as contact sports. Learning to identify the different types of sprains by the mechanism of the injury and by its symptoms will help you grasp the severity of the sprain. This information is crucial in determining how to treat the sprain.

Types

• There are four types, or degrees, of a sprain. A first-degree sprain is a minor ligament injury that causes minor pain and no swelling. A second-degree sprain indicates minor tear in a ligament, which will cause moderate, localized pain and swelling. A third-degree sprain is described as a complete rupture of a ligament, and causes severe pain and swelling. A fourth-degree sprain is the complete separation of a ligament from the bone, causing severe pain and swelling to the surrounding areas. This type of sprain will require surgery to repair.

Time Frame

• The time it takes a sprain to heal depends on many factors. These factors include the degree and location of the sprain, the method of treating the injury and the overall health of the person. A minor sprain in an area that can be kept at complete rest (like a finger or wrist) will heal itself within a few weeks. A more severe third-degree sprain of the ankle or knee will take several weeks or even months to completely heal. Fourth-degree sprains that are treated with surgery will take months to heal. Older patients and patients who are in bad overall health will also take longer to heal, no matter the degree of the sprain. The more severe third- and fourth-degree sprains will also require weeks or months of physical therapy before the sufferer returns to normal.

Identification

• Sprains can be identified by the signs and symptoms they present, after the possibility of a bone fracture has been ruled out via a simple X-ray. Sprains are identified first by the mechanism of injury. Was there an accident or injury that caused the symptoms? Symptoms will include localized pain and swelling. The degree of pain and swelling is directly related to the degree of the sprain. Athletes who suffer twisting and hyperextension of joints commonly sprain the ligaments of that joint. The severity of a sprain (and a definitive identification of it) can only be diagnosed via a method of diagnostic study called Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

Prevention/Solution

• Totally preventing sprains is not a simple task. The possibility of sprains exists in everyday life whenever a person is mobile. Most of these sprains are caused by simple accidents, like twisting an ankle when walking, slipping off a curb or falling. However, to prevent sprains when participating in high-risk activities like sports or exercising, you must use protective equipment like wraps and splints. Specialized equipment designed for the individual sport should always be employed to prevent sprains.

  Healing a sprain depends on total rest of the injured ligament (it also prevents further injury). Ambulatory devices like wheelchairs, crutches, braces and canes are always used during the healing process of a sprain. More severe sprains will require physical therapy after the initial healing process has been completed, to prevent the ligament from contracting during the healing process.