How to Recognize the Symptoms of a Sprain

When injury strikes during the course of leisure or work activities, you need to know when to quit. Some impacts or awkward movements can produce momentary pain, affecting the muscle but not damaging it. At other times, collisions, slips or falls can cause tears in soft tissue, resulting in a muscle or ligament sprain. Learn about the symptoms for sprains and know when an injury is severe enough to require treatment.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• First-aid information from trusted sources
• Facts about the muscular system

Recognize and Treat Sprain Symptoms

1. Know the mechanism of sprains. A sprain occurs when a ligament, the tissue that secures muscles and tendons to the bone around a joint, is stretched or torn. Learn more about the muscular system online (see Resources below).

2. Be aware of possible causes of sprains. They can happen during any activity, sports or otherwise, where heavy lifting, repetitive motion or severe movement overburdens certain muscles.

3. Evaluate an injury when it happens. Detect a sprain in an area of sudden and persistent pain, where movement may also be restricted.

4. Rule out unlikely conditions, such as broken bones or internal injuries, by learning more about first aid. Read about the symptoms of sprains and more severe conditions you might encounter while hiking in "Wilderness First Aid" by Paul Gill or a more comprehensive guide (see Resources below).

5. Recognize secondary symptoms of a sprain, such as redness, bruising or swelling. Severe cases may cause muscles to spasm.

6. Use PRICE to treat the injured area: Protect it with a splint or bandage, if necessary. Rest. Ice it with a gel pack. Compress it with a support bandage. Elevate it to relieve pain.

7. Continue this treatment until sprain symptoms lessen or disappear. You may need to take pain relievers, as well.

Tips & Warnings

• Symptoms of sprains and strains are similar. Don't worry about distinguishing between the two, since treatment is the same.
• Treat sprains as soon as possible for the quickest and fullest healing.
• If you are numb, hear a clicking sound or recognize discoloration other than redness or bruising in the injured area, see a doctor.
• Take any pain-relief medication as directed.

Resources

• Common injuries in a take-along guide in "Wilderness First Aid" by Paul Gill at Amazon
• Muscular system illustration and info at Sport Fitness Advisor

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