What to do if you sprain your ankle? Pay attention to emergency treatment

Not warming up properly before exercising or walking in high heels can cause an ankle sprain. After spraining an ankle, some people will immediately apply hot compresses or massage the joints, but this is actually an incorrect approach. So what emergency treatment should be done after a sprained ankle?

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.

1: First, let the injured area rest and do not move. The second thing is to bandage the injured area appropriately, which can also relieve swelling. Third, the injured part should be raised appropriately, slightly higher than the heart, to reduce local blood flow. When the swelling of the injured area is under control and begins to subside, applying warm compresses can dilate local blood vessels and promote the absorption of hematoma.

2: Remember not to apply improper manipulation and massage, which may aggravate the inflammation. You may consider temporarily using underarm crutches to avoid undue stress on the foot when walking, which may affect recovery or lead to re-sprain. When resting, keep your feet elevated as much as possible to promote blood circulation and reduce ankle swelling.

3: The patient should also seek medical attention immediately to rule out the possibility of ligament rupture, fracture, etc. Rehabilitation treatment is more effective in eliminating pain and swelling.

Even abnormalities in the structure of the foot, such as flat feet, can cause an ankle sprain. For injured feet, it is necessary to strengthen their flexibility, muscle strength and body balance to prevent further injury!