How to treat sprains
Sprains are common sports injuries in daily life, especially when exercising, walking or carrying heavy objects. Recently, hot topics on sprain treatment on the Internet mainly focus on home care, drug treatment, rehabilitation exercises, etc. This article will combine the hot content of the past 10 days to provide you with a structured sprain treatment guide.
1. Common symptoms of sprains

Sprains typically present with pain, swelling, bruising, and limited movement around the joint. The following is a classification of common symptoms after a sprain:
| Symptoms | Description |
|---|---|
| pain | Severe or dull pain at the sprained site, which worsens with activity |
| swelling | Swelling of tissues around joints due to inflammatory reaction |
| congestion | Broken capillaries under the skin causing skin cyanosis |
| Restricted activities | The range of joint movement is reduced, and in severe cases, the joint cannot bear weight. |
2. Emergency treatment of sprains (RICE principle)
The first 48 hours after a sprain is the golden processing period. Using the RICE principle can effectively reduce symptoms:
| steps | Operation | function |
|---|---|---|
| Rest | Stop activities immediately to avoid aggravating the injury | Prevent secondary damage |
| Ice | 15-20 minutes each time, 3-4 times a day | Reduce swelling and pain |
| Compression | Use an elastic bandage to bandage appropriately | Reduce internal bleeding and swelling |
| Elevation | Elevate the affected limb above the level of the heart | Promote venous return |
3. Drug treatment plan
According to recent hot topics in medicine, the following drugs are often recommended for sprain treatment:
| drug type | Representative medicine | function | Things to note |
|---|---|---|---|
| External anti-inflammatory and analgesic | Voltaren cream, Yunnan Baiyao aerosol | Local analgesia and anti-inflammation | Disabled for skin damage |
| Oral analgesia | Ibuprofen, acetaminophen | Relieve pain and inflammation | Do not take on an empty stomach |
| Promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis | Panax notoginseng tablets, Diedai pills | Promote congestion absorption | Pregnant women should use with caution |
4. Rehabilitation exercise schedule
Proper rehabilitation exercises are crucial to restoring joint function. Here are staged recovery recommendations:
| recovery stage | time | Recommended sports |
|---|---|---|
| acute phase | 0-3 days | Rest completely, doing only light toe movements |
| subacute phase | 4-14 days | Gentle range of motion exercises |
| recovery period | 15-30 days | Strength training and balance exercises |
| Reinforcement period | 1 month later | Gradually resume sports and wear protective gear |
5. Warning signs that require medical treatment
Although most sprains resolve on their own, you should seek immediate medical attention if:
| Symptoms | Possible problem |
|---|---|
| Unable to bear weight or walk | Broken bones or completely torn ligaments |
| Significant deformation of joints | dislocation |
| numbness or tingling sensation | nerve damage |
| Swelling continues to increase | severe soft tissue injury |
6. Tips to prevent sprains
According to recent sports medicine hot spots, you should pay attention to the following to prevent sprains:
1. Warm up thoroughly before exercise, especially ankle and knee joints
2. Wear suitable sports shoes and avoid soles that are too soft or too hard.
3. Be extra careful when walking on uneven roads
4. Strengthen lower limb muscle strength training and improve joint stability
5. Avoid strenuous exercise when you are tired
Summary: Sprain treatment requires different responses depending on the extent of the injury. Mild sprains can usually recover within 2-3 weeks with RICE principles and proper care, while severe injuries require professional medical intervention. The recovery process should be gradual to avoid secondary injuries caused by premature return to sports.
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