What is a sprain?
Sprains are strains or sprains of ligaments that occur when they are overstretched or when a joint is placed in an unnatural position. The patient suffering from a sprain suffers muscle pain, swelling, skin discoloration and joint stiffness.
There are three classes of sprain, depending on the severity:
- Grade 1 sprain: there is ligament strain without reaching ligament rupture.
- Grade 2 sprain: there is partial rupture of the ligamentous tissue.
- Grade 3 sprain: there is a complete rupture of the ligamentous portion.
Prognosis of the disease
Most sprains are minor injuries, although there are some cases in which they can be aggravated.
Symptoms of a sprain
There are several symptoms that should be taken into account, among which we highlight:
- Muscle pain
- Joint pain or stiffness
- Swelling
- Changes in the color of the skin, such as bruising.
Ankle sprains are among the most common sprains.
Medical tests for a sprain
Diagnosis is usually very simple, once the symptoms and the way in which the injury has occurred have been described. In addition, it is also assessed if there is swelling or a hematoma.
The specialist will palpate the affected structures and assess the degree of inflammation. He/she will also take into account the level of limitation of joint mobility.
X-rays can be useful for diagnosing small bone breaks in smaller joints. Joint ultrasound is especially useful for sprains, and it provides data on the integrity or rupture of ligaments affected by the injury. It also shows the presence of joint fluid.
In other, less frequent cases, CT or MRI scans are also used. The CT scan better visualizes the presence of bone fragments in the break and the MRI is used to visualize damage to the ligamentous and capsular apparatus.
What are the causes of a sprain?
Sprains occur when a joint is forced to move into an abnormal position. A frequent case is the ankle sprain, which can cause a sprain in the surrounding ligaments. This case is especially common in athletes, in soccer or basketball, for example.
Can it be prevented?
There is no foolproof method but there are some tips that can be followed to reduce the chances of suffering a sprain:
- Wearing protective footwear during physical activities that place stress on the ankle or other joints.
- Wear shoes that fit the foot properly.
- Avoiding high heels.
- Stretching and warming up before exercise or sports practice.
- Do not practice sports or activities for which you have not trained.
Treatments for a sprain
When suffering a sprain it is important to control pain and inflammation. It is also important to relieve loads on the area affected by the injury. The protocol followed is rest, ice, compression and elevation:
- Rest
- Apply ice or similar, such as a bag of frozen peas, to reduce swelling and pain.
- Apply a compressive bandage to the injured area.
- Elevate the affected body part to promote edematous drainage. In the case of the ankle, a fairly common sprain, it is important to elevate it above the hip to achieve effective drainage.
What specialist treats it?
For the treatment of a sprain we must go to a specialist in Orthopedics and Traumatology.