How to deal with a sprained ankle, emergency treatment methods for sprains

If people are not well prepared when exercising or women are not careful when walking in high heels, they are likely to sprain their ankles. Ankle sprains can cause people to feel joint pain and difficulty in exerting force, which has a great impact on people's daily lives. So how should you treat a sprained ankle?

1: When a joint suddenly moves to one side and exceeds its normal range of motion under the action of external force, it causes tears in the soft tissues around the joint, such as the joint capsule, ligaments, tendons, etc., which is called a joint sprain. In mild cases, only part of the ligament fibers are torn; in severe cases, the ligament may be completely ruptured or the bones at the attachment of the ligament and joint capsule may be torn off, or even joint dislocation may occur. Joint sprains are the most common, with the ankle being the most common.

2: It is reported that ankle injuries are usually divided into lateral ligament injuries (caused by forceful inversion of the foot, common) and medial ligament injuries (caused by forceful eversion of the foot, less likely to occur). After an ankle injury, you should first determine whether it is a soft tissue sprain or a fracture. If it is a sprain, you will feel pain immediately after the injury and have limited mobility, unable to walk or can only walk with difficulty, and the ankle will swell. If the ankle is bruised and painful after the injury, there is obvious pain when pressing on the inner and outer ankles, and you can hear bone friction sounds, there is functional impairment, or even deformity, then it is an ankle fracture.

3: It should be noted that if it is only a mild sprain, you can handle it yourself; if it is a more serious sprain, you should go to the hospital for treatment immediately.

1: Ice compress: Put crushed ice or ice water in a plastic bag and apply it to the injured area for 20 minutes every 4 hours when you are awake. If conditions permit, apply ice immediately when sprained, and go to the hospital or go home to treat it yourself depending on the severity of the condition. If there is no time to apply ice, and if the condition is serious, edema will definitely occur on the same day or the next day. It is recommended to use Chinese medicine to treat it and elevate the injured leg.

2: When you don't need to move it, elevate the injured ankle joint, at least higher than the waist to be effective. Try not to let the injured foot touch the ground until the swelling has subsided significantly. If possible, keep the injured foot elevated (usually above the heart). At the same time, it can be assisted by physical therapy, such as using an infrared baking lamp. After baking, you can apply Chinese medicine immediately. This will be more conducive to the absorption of the medicine and help to disperse blood stasis.

3: Use an elastic bandage to wrap the injured area for compression. It should not be too loose or too tight. If it is too loose, it will be ineffective and easy to fall off. If it is too tight, the toes will swell and become numb, and blood circulation will be impeded.

4: Crutch: Use a crutch to help you walk. The injured foot can be completely off the ground, or slightly on the ground to support your weight within a pain-free range. However, you should not land on your toes first, because this will easily cause an inversion sprain when the sole of the foot is facing downward. You must land on your heel first, just like walking normally, and then the entire sole of the foot.

Resting and reducing exercise can reduce congestion in the affected area and reduce edema, thus reducing unnecessary secondary injuries.