Signs of sprains and first aid

In the human body, there are many bones that can be immobile, semi-mobile and mobile. Most of the movements of our body are due to joints. These formations are both strong and, thanks to ligaments, very mobile.

Quite often, unsuccessful movement, falling can lead to injury. Let's figure out what are the signs of bruising, stretching and dislocation. We will discuss what first aid should be provided with such damage.

What is stretching?

For people who lead an active lifestyle, such a trauma is not uncommon. One wrong move is enough - and now the stretching limits mobility. Bunches of man, despite its strength, still under the influence of the load can stretch and damage.

Stretching refers to a trauma in which a rupture of connective tissue fibers occurs, of which ligaments consist. Since they contain a large number of nerve endings and blood vessels, the signs of stretching will manifest themselves almost immediately in the form of pain and swelling. Damage to ligaments can be of varying degrees, the most serious is considered to be their complete rupture.

The severity also depends on the number of affected fibers. Any sudden movements, heavy load can lead to the fact that the signs of joint extension will be there. Such injuries are not uncommon in children, sportsmen and those who prefer to lead an active lifestyle.

What can provoke sprain

The ligaments are a connective tissue that responds in the joints for their strength and attaches the muscles to the bones. By its structure, the fibers are fairly strong and capable of withstanding heavy loads, thereby providing mobility. If there is an inadequate physical effect, then the signs of stretching appear here like here. Most often, such injuries occur:

• If there is a mechanical damage to the joint.
• There is an excessive physical load.
• For a long time, the joints and ligaments undergo the same load.
• Sharp movements in the joint, which exceed the normal amplitude.

Factors that increase the risk of stretching

At risk are always athletes. Despite intensive and regular training, the ligaments do not always withstand excessive loads. In children, the ligamentous apparatus has not yet been fully formed, so they can also be attributed to this group. There are some other factors that increase the risk of getting stretch:

1. If a person has a low-activity lifestyle, then any increased physical load may result in signs that ligaments will not be long in coming.
2. Many, going to the gym or independently doing, incorrectly distribute the load when running, jumping, which is fraught with injury.
3. The risk of stretching will be significantly reduced if a small workout is done before the main group of exercises is performed.
4. Do not continue the session if you feel very tired. In such situations, coordination can fail, and any embarrassing movement will lead to stretching.
5. With age, the elasticity of the ligaments is significantly reduced, so the frequency of such injuries increases.
6. In the second half of pregnancy the ligamentous apparatus is already preparing for the forthcoming birth and becomes excessively elastic, which increases the risk of stretching with awkward movements.

From all of the above it becomes clear that almost everyone can get such an injury. It is important now in time to recognize the signs of sprain and provide first aid to the victim.

Types of sprain

Stretching of the ligaments can occur in almost any joint, hence the following types of such injuries:

1. Stretching in the acromioclavicular joint. Such damage often occurs if a person falls or gets hit at the top of the joint. Immediately, pain is felt over the external end of the clavicle as the hand moves across the trunk.
2. Stretching in the sternoclavicular joint can appear if you fall on an elongated arm.
3. Stretching of the wrist takes place if the brush is sharply unbent.
4. Injury of the knee joint is also diagnosed quite often. This can be with direct shock or twisting.
5. Damage to the cruciate ligament can occur with strong twisting of the thigh with a fixed shin. At the time of injury, a feeling is created that the knee "falls apart".
6. Stretching of the ligaments of the ankle joint. Often happens if you tuck your leg or accidentally land on a foot near a standing person.

The signs of stretching for different types of injuries are almost the same, we'll get acquainted with them further.

Degrees of stretching

The severity of stretching can be different, hence the degree of severity:

The first degree is the easiest. There is damage to the small area of the ligament. The victim feels pain, but this does not affect his movements. Swelling may be absent altogether.

2nd degree - moderate. As a rule, this is a partial rupture of ligaments. In the injured zone, severe pain is felt, there is swelling and under the skin hemorrhage.

The heaviest degree is the 3rd. There is a complete rupture of ligaments, there is a strong acute pain, a large swelling, bruises. If an ankle injury occurs, the victim can not even step on his leg.

Signs of stretching

At a stretching practically all victims mark occurrence of a pain. This is explained by the large number of nerve endings in the ligaments and blood vessels, so there is also a swelling.

Pain and swelling are the first signs of stretching, but there are other symptoms:

• Formation of a bruise, hemorrhage in the tissue.
• The damaged area swells.
• Redness of the skin.
• Limited motor activity.
• If you touch the injured place, you feel pain.
• Increase in temperature (not always).
• Hyperthermia at the site of injury.

Signs of bruising, stretching are quite similar. In both cases, it sometimes happens that the victim in the first moments does not feel pain, so he continues to move on. But this is dangerous because the tension is only increasing, as the mobility of the joint injures the tissues.

In addition to stretching, a rupture of ligaments is possible, and this will require completely different care and treatment. In addition, signs of dislocation, the signs of stretching are also quite similar, so it is necessary to distinguish them.

Displays of dislocation

The following phenomena occur during dislocation:

• Ligament rupture.
• Displacement of bones.
• The surfaces of the articular bones cease to touch or partially do so.
• The joint changes its external shape.
• The motor function is disrupted.

Of course, dislocation and fracture are more serious injuries, but the first manifestations can resemble stretching, so it is necessary to diagnose as quickly as possible and begin effective therapy.

Signs of muscle strain

In addition to stretching the ligaments, you can observe the same trauma, but affecting the muscle fibers. If you over-tighten them or cut them, then there will already be signs of muscle strain:

• Painful sensations in the muscle during movement and probing.
• The muscle swells and becomes swollen.
• Perhaps the formation of bruises.
• A painful seal appears at the site of injury.
• Violated completely or partially the functioning of the muscle.

If the injury has an easy degree, then in a few days she will stop bothering. More serious injuries require the intervention of a doctor.

To distinguish the stretching of the muscles from the stretching of the ligaments can be on the following grounds:

1. If there is a trauma to the ligaments, the pain sensations appear almost immediately or after a short period of time.
2. When stretching muscles, the pain usually appears the next day.

How to help the victim?

So, we already know which signs indicate the sprain of the ligaments. And first aid can be provided to the victim in a timely manner, which will significantly reduce the risk of complications. The algorithm of action will be as follows:

1. The injured limb should be immobilized as soon as possible. This will help alleviate pain and reduce the risk of developing negative reactions.
2. To the place of injury you can apply cold - it will relieve swelling, reduce pain. In such situations, any improvised means can be used in the course, from snow from the street to a piece of frozen meat from the freezer.
3. Give the joint a natural position and apply a tight bandage.
4. You can give the victim an anesthetic to relieve the pain syndrome.
5. If there is bruising, then the limb should be given an elevated position, which will prevent the growth of edema.
6. Visit the doctor to exclude the dislocation and rupture of ligaments.

If there is a slight stretch (signs), and first aid is given, then after about 5 days the symptoms will begin to subside, and the work capacity is fully restored.

Taboo with sprain

Everyone should also know what can not be done when stretching:

• It is forbidden to rub the injured area or to warm it. Thermal procedures can be used only a few days after injury to improve blood circulation, prompt resorption of hematomas.
• Do not take alcohol as an analgesic - this can increase bleeding, if any, and slow down the process of tissue repair.
• Only complete rest will help the ligaments to recover faster, if you continue to train or work through pain, this can lead to the development of complications.

If you follow all the doctor's recommendations and ensure complete rest of the injured limb, then the injured area will heal much faster.

Urgently to the doctor!

If the healing process is delayed and the symptoms listed below are observed, it is necessary to consult a doctor:

• Severe pain, an injured limb can not be moved.
• There is numbness in the injured joint or below.
• The place of injury was very red.
• In the past, there have been cases of joint damage.
• Violated mobility in the joint, there is a "crack".
• Within a few days, there is no improvement.
• The body temperature increased.

If one or more of these signs occur, you will need to call a doctor.

Treatment of stretching

Therapeutic measures include the following:

• Physiotherapeutic procedures.
• Injection of anti-inflammatory drugs.
• Physiotherapy.
• Use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

If the stretching without ligament rupture, then the physiotherapeutic procedures have a good effect. But it is not always possible to visit such offices, so with a slight stretching, a pressure bandage is quite suitable. Recently, orthopedic appliances for immobilization, made of natural or synthetic materials, are becoming more popular.

In the first couple of days, you can use cooling compresses, and then move on to warming. A good help in the treatment of stretching is the use of ointments and gels, for example, "Voltaren", "Diclofenac". They not only help reduce edema, but also relieve pain.

After the puffiness subsides and the pain disappears, you can begin to perform some exercises that will help restore the normal motor activity of the joint.

Strong stretching sometimes requires the use of steroid hormones, for example ointments with prednisolone and hydrocortisone. Such drugs have anti-inflammatory effect, relieve pain and swelling of tissues.

If there is a serious injury, surgery may be required to stitch the ruptured ligaments.

Home therapy

If the victim does not want to see a doctor, then, as a rule, they start home methods of therapy. The first step is a bandage on the leg and an anesthetic injection is made. You can use "Diclofenac", "Ketanov" for these purposes.

Treatment at home reduces to the use of ointments, compresses, which help to remove swelling, get rid of the pain. You can recommend this recipe home remedy:

1. One potato and a bulb grate.
2. Grind the cabbage leaf.
3. Dilute a tablespoon of clay curdled milk.
4. Combine all the ingredients and make a compress at night.

You can use another recipe:

1. 10 cloves garlic chop and pour 0.5 liters of apple cider vinegar or 100 ml of vodka.
2. Leave to infuse for 2 weeks in a dark place.
3. After 14 days, filter and add 20 drops of eucalyptus oil.
4. Composition can be used for compress.

If the injury is insignificant, then most likely, such methods will have an effective effect, and the symptoms of stretching will soon stop worrying.

Even small injuries should not be ignored: without appropriate treatment, complications may develop, and this will require more serious therapy.