Most common sports injuries. A sprain occurs as an overstretching of ligaments at a joint. A strain is an overstretching of muscle or tendons. Most common sprains and strains occur by direct trauma or poor flexibility.

  • Signs and Symptoms
    Treatment
    Return to Activity
    Signs and Symptoms of Concern

Signs and Symptoms:
  • Swelling over or around the site of injury
  • Discoloration
  • Deformity
  • Localized heat
  • Inability to use the injured body part
Treatment:
Rest
If you can't walk without a limp, use crutches.
Use a sling to immobilize a wrist, elbow or shoulder.
Remove jewelry from injured body part, i.e. rings.
Buddy tape injured fingers to splint and support.
Ice
Ice for the first 48-72 hours.
Helps to decrease swelling and pain.
Ice for 20-30 minutes, every two hours until swelling begins to decrease.
Use a dry towel to decrease skin irritation from cold exposure.
Compression
Use an elastic bandage to apply compression.
Apply the bandage away from the heart, wrapping towards
the heart. Distal to proximal.
Elastic wrap should not be worn to bed.
Loosen elastic wrap to decrease pressure from swelling.
Elavation
Elevate when at rest, sleeping, sitting, and icing.
Use pillows to support the area.
Return to Activity:
Walk normally without a limp or use of crutches.
Continue to ice after activity.
Pain and swelling have been gone for 3-4 days.
Signs and Symptoms of Concern:
  • Numbness not associated with icing the injury.
  • Excruciating pain that does not subside with an anti-inflammatory( Advil).
  • Hearing a "pop/ crack" or seeing a deformity in the bone.
  • Having a diminished pulse/ whitening of the skin near the sight or injury.