What should I do if I sprain my ankle?

Sprained ankle is a common occurrence. There are many reasons for it, such as wearing inappropriate shoes, uneven roads, falling from a height, etc. Many people are confused when they sprain their ankle and don't know what to do. The elders at home will tell them some folk remedies, such as boiling hot water with pepper branches or seeds of a certain plant to scald the ankle.

Generally speaking, folk remedies have been proven to be problem-free and reliable after decades of practice. But is this really the case? Can you immediately use hot water to scald your ankle if you sprain it? No, you should apply ice compresses first, and only after 48 hours can you use folk remedies to scald your ankle.

1. First of all, after spraining your foot, you must apply cold compress within 48 hours. The cold compress can be done every two hours, for about fifteen minutes each time. Alternate between hot and cold for 48 hours to promote blood circulation. You can stop the cold compress or alternate between hot and cold until the swelling stops increasing.

2. After spraining your foot, you must stop all activities and try to raise the injured part of your ankle to allow venous return and normal blood circulation, thereby reducing the pain caused by swelling and pain. At this time, you should also try to bandage the ankle joint to reduce the traction of the injured ligament or muscle caused by the movement of the injured part.

3. Finally, when the ankle is injured or sprained, many people habitually massage or rub the wound with their hands. This is an unscientific practice and may aggravate foot inflammation. When the swelling and pain disappear, you can gently rub the injured part to promote blood circulation.

Note:

After spraining your foot, try to stop all activities. Do not continue to exercise just because the injury is not serious, which will aggravate the swelling and pain of the injured part.

If you sprain your ankle, don't be nervous at first. Sit down and rest slowly. If conditions permit, ask family and friends to help take you home to rest and check if you have any fractures at home. Generally, if you have a fracture, you dare not move at all, and it will be very painful if you move. If you can move a little, it's just a sprain, which can be treated at home.