The ankle joint is one of the most important joints in the human body, and most of the body's weight rests on it. What to do with an ankle sprain and how to prevent the problem?

Ligaments are strong, flexible fibers that hold bones together. A sprain is a closed injury to the ligaments around a joint. Sprain is an insidious and dangerous injury, but with quick and competent actions, it can be dealt with as soon as possible. If you do not start treatment in a timely manner or treat the sprain incorrectly, the rehabilitation process can drag on for a long time.

Causes of sprains

The main cause of sprains are sudden movements in the joint, exceeding the physical capabilities of a person. A similar injury can be obtained anywhere at home, at home, on the street, in the gym and at the stadium. A sharp awkward movement, an unsuccessful landing, a fall, slipping, when the heel is tucked inward, can cause injury - the joint loses its normal position, and the ligament that supports it can stretch, tear or tear.

Quite often, sprains occur during sports. It's for wrestlers, tennis players, soccer players and basketball players. Also, the injury often occurs in winter due to ice.

The case of stretching is also typical for fashionistas who prefer shoes with high heels. Such shoes increase the risk of twisting the foot, resulting in stretching occurs.

Sprain symptoms

• Joint or muscle pain
• Hyperemia (edema)
• Limitation of joint mobility

Depending on the severity of the injury, there may also be observed: an increase in body temperature, a noticeable bruising in the soft tissues.

Degrees of sprain

• Grade I sprain - slight pain
• Grade II sprain - moderate pain, swelling, disability
• Grade III sprain - severe pain, joint instability

If a popping or crunching sound is heard during the injury, it means that the sprain is severe, and ligament rupture or bone damage is likely. Depending on the severity of the injury, the victim may simply be uncomfortable walking, or he may not be able to move at all.

First aid for sprains

If a sprain is suspected, it is advisable to take measures immediately, on the spot.

• Help should begin with immobilization of the damaged area.
• Ice should be applied to the injured area to reduce swelling. Wrap the ice in a cloth. Do not apply ice directly to the skin. Ice should be applied for 10-15 minutes, with a break of about half an hour. This should be done on the first day after the injury.
• Place a bandage around the affected area to limit movement. Use a splint if necessary.
• If the sprain is severe, rest the affected joint for a few days.

If you are worried about pain, use ointments containing anesthetics, anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics, take dimexide, ibuprofen or other painkillers. In addition, the victim is recommended to drink plenty of fluids.

Use a fixation bandage on the injured area until the pain subsides. It usually takes 7-10 days for a moderate sprain and several weeks for a severe one. Your doctor may recommend that you use crutches during your recovery period.

When to See a Doctor

• If there is reason to think that you have a fracture
• In case of severe pain in the injured area
• If the swelling does not go away within 2 days
• You have symptoms of an infection: redness, sore skin, or a temperature above 37.7 0 C.
• If the pain does not go away within a few weeks

Traumatologist-orthopedist

With skiing and similar injuries, ligament ruptures are not uncommon, which later manifest themselves as chronic pain and instability.

Rehabilitation after an injury

In order to return the ligaments and joint to work after a complex injury, special physical exercises, massage and physiotherapy are required. If the injury is mild, supportive treatment is carried out - a fixing bandage, anti-inflammatory ointments, antispasmodics and drugs that strengthen the walls of blood vessels (troxerutin, etc.), ensuring a state of rest.

Traumatologist-orthopedist, Kiev

When the anterior cruciate ligament is ruptured, surgery is almost always indicated for patients with an active lifestyle, including for the prevention of joint wear.

Orthopedist Nikolay Karpinsky: “Therapeutic exercise helps to restore the range of motion that was before the injury and the balance that the joint gives when supported. The ligament is damaged not only mechanically, but the nerve endings that it contains are also damaged. Our balance is controlled by small receptors that lie in the thickness of the ligaments and give accurate information about how much the joint is stretched into the brain and then we can keep our balance. When the ligaments are damaged, not only their mechanical function is disturbed, but also the sense of balance. Therefore, exercises on balance boards are most relevant for recovery.

Ways to prevent injury

Although there is no one-size-fits-all way to help protect against sprains, there are some steps you can take. The following actions will help reduce the risk of sprains:

• Wear special footwear during activities that place stress on the ankle or other joints.
• Avoid high heels.
• Always warm up and stretch before starting a workout.

Unfortunately, no one is immune from injury. One of the most common types of injuries, both at home and in the performance of professional duties or sports, is a sprain of the arm or leg. As a rule, the ligaments of the large articulations of our body most often suffer: the shoulder, knee, elbow joint, hip, foot. The ligaments of the hands are much less likely to be injured.

The consequences of a sprain depend on the degree of injury, on the completeness and timeliness of first aid, on further therapeutic measures and a rehabilitation program.

What to do with a sprain, regardless of the location of the injury, should be known to every person who is not indifferent to their health and the well-being of others. Treatment includes three main stages:

1. Primary treatment (conservative or surgical).
2. Measures to restore the function of the joint.

It is necessary to start treatment for sprains immediately after the injury. There is no need to delay with this, since the prognosis and speed of recovery depend on the timeliness of emergency care and its correctness. In addition, it is absolutely not necessary to have any special medical knowledge in order to help yourself or a loved one with such an injury. All first aid measures are very simple and can be mastered by anyone. Consider what needs to be done when providing emergency assistance.

functional rest

After an injury, it is necessary to ensure complete functional rest for the injured joint. Any movements, even minimal ones, can aggravate the condition and cause complications, for example, complete rupture of the ligamentous fibers, bleeding, rupture of the joint capsule, etc.

Even with a first-degree sprain, it is forbidden to load the affected joints for several days.

It is important to know and remember! Prolonged immobilization is just as harmful as early activation, since during forced rest, muscle atrophy and shortening of the ligaments begin. In the future, this can cause a limitation of the range of motion in the damaged joint, its deformation and the development of contracture.

The main criterion that you need to focus on when returning to the usual level of physical activity is pain. If during movements you feel discomfort, then it is too early to load the joint. And if there is no pain, then it's time to develop the damaged area.

Stages of applying a bandage from an elastic bandage to the ankle joint

Fixation

Fixation of the damaged joint, in addition to immobilization and restriction of dangerous movements, performs several more important functions. Firstly, an elastic bandage reduces the intensity of pain, reduces tissue swelling at the site of injury. Secondly, this simple measure prevents such a dangerous complication of bruised joints as hemarthrosis (bleeding into the joint cavity).

If you do not have the skills of applying bandages to various joints and there is no desire to master them, then you can use ready-made elastic bandages, calipers, orthoses. In specialized stores, such products can be selected for any joints of the body.

Cold

A cold compress or a heating pad with ice will help to quickly relieve pain. Alternatively, you can use a bag of frozen vegetables from the freezer wrapped in a towel. Cold will eliminate acute pain, prevent the development of hemarthrosis, and reduce the degree of edema. Cold compresses should be applied to the sore spot for no more than 15-20 minutes every two hours. This can be done during the first 2-3 days after the injury.

An ice pack will quickly relieve the pain of a sprain

There are also special preparations for freezing bruises. Such products are available in the form of sprays and contain a substance that cools the tissues when applied to the skin instantly. As a rule, such sprays are used in professional sports when injured.

exalted position

In case of damage to the joint and its ligaments, it is desirable to give the limb an elevated position (above the level of the heart). This will slightly limit the flow of blood to the site of injury, respectively, reduce the risk of bleeding, reduce swelling and inflammation.

Pain relief activities

Even a first-degree sprain is accompanied by pain, so the elimination of this unpleasant phenomenon is a priority for first aid. As a rule, the implementation of the described measures very often provides an analgesic effect. No additional steps are needed. But in the case when the injury is serious, and the pain does not go away, you can resort to self-administration of analgesics (no more than 2 tablets) even before the ambulance arrives.

Basic principles of first aid for sprains on the example of the ankle

What is strictly prohibited?

There are cases when people who have received a sprain do not know how to behave in such a situation and inept actions only aggravate their condition. Remember the activities that are prohibited in this kind of injury:

1. In the acute period, you can not use any warming procedures, for example, thermal compresses, warming and locally irritating ointments, gels, warm heating pads, etc.
2. It is impossible to use alcoholic beverages for the purpose of anesthesia. This will only increase the swelling and pain.
3. Active movements, rubbing, kneading, massage of the damaged area. Such actions will only increase the chance of complications.

Conservative therapy

The main stage of treatment of sprains can take place both in a trauma hospital and on an outpatient basis (depending on the type and degree of injury). Conservative therapy at this stage includes the use of medications from several groups.

In the first place are analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs (ketoprofen, diclofenac, nimesulide, meloxicam, ibuprofen, indomethacin, etc.). These drugs are used in the form of intramuscular injections, tablets for oral administration, creams, gels, ointments for external use.

It is difficult to name the best ointment, but such remedies are especially popular: Voltaren, Diprilif, Dolabene, Indovazin, Fastum-gel, Dolgit, Ketonal, Traumel, Ibuprofen, Viprosal, Gevkamen.

Voltaren - an effective analgesic and anti-inflammatory ointment

In the case of intense pain that is not eliminated by analgesics, the doctor can block the diseased articulation using local anesthetics (lidocaine, novocaine).

How to smear the joint area for resorption of hematomas and bruises? For this purpose, such means are suitable: heparin ointment and Troxevasin. They quickly eliminate the accumulation of blood, prevent the formation of blood clots. But they can only be used when you are sure that the bleeding has stopped.

Ointments with a warming effect are allowed to be used only during the recovery period after an injury. Which one to choose, the doctor decides. Such remedies consist of components of snake, bee venom, red pepper extract, vegetable salicylates, therefore, such remedies for sprains are very allergenic, and they must be used with caution.

When to Seek Medical Help

If you are self-treating a sprain, you should be aware of situations in which you urgently need to seek specialized medical help:

• impaired limb function, inability to perform active movements;
• intense pain that does not go away;
• pronounced and growing swelling of the joint area;
• the appearance of fever;
• development of signs of joint inflammation (pain, swelling, redness, increased local skin temperature);
• self-treatment does not bring a positive result for 3 days.

All these symptoms indicate the addition of complications or an initially incorrect diagnosis and a complex variant of an articular injury, for example, a torn ligament, a fracture.

Surgery

Surgical treatment is prescribed in case of rupture of the ligaments, when it was not possible to achieve recovery by conservative methods or in case of an injury in a professional athlete to resume the function of the joint in full.

During arthroscopy, the surgeon makes only three small punctures.

Modern surgical interventions on ligaments are performed using arthroscopic techniques without large incisions and heavy recovery. The type of surgery depends on the severity of the injury. As a rule, reconstruction of damaged ligamentous elements is performed, their replacement with an auto- or allograft.

Surgical treatment is indicated immediately after injury or after 6 weeks. An operation performed in the middle of the specified period has a poor prognosis.

Rehabilitation program

Recovery from a sprain should begin at the end of the acute period of the injury, when there is no more pain. The rehabilitation program mainly consists of three areas: physiotherapy exercises, various physiotherapy procedures, massage. Rehabilitation treatment can be carried out at home, in a clinic or special rehabilitation centers.

Therapeutic exercise is the main component of successful rehabilitation

Folk remedies

All folk remedies that are intended for the treatment of sprains can be used only during the rehabilitation period and only after consulting a doctor. Consider a few popular recipes.

iodine mesh

Such an event will help to quickly eliminate the hematoma, bruises. You can apply an iodine mesh only after 2-3 days from injury. Do not forget to check the sensitivity to iodine with an allergic test before the procedure. For treatment, you will need a 5% iodine solution and cotton swabs. You need to draw a lattice so that its cells have a size of about one square centimeter.

Clay compress

Beat one raw potato and half an onion with a blender into a pulp. In the resulting mixture, add a teaspoon of sugar and three tablespoons of any clay. Mix thoroughly. Distribute the composition on a clean cloth and apply to the damaged area. Wrap the compress on top with cling film and wrap with a warm cloth. You need to keep 4-5 hours, the course consists of 5-7 compresses.

Remember that the treatment of a sprain, regardless of location, begins with simple first aid measures. Therefore, do not forget about them, because such knowledge can come in handy at any moment.

Text: Karina Shaitarova

Sprain is one of the easiest injuries, the treatment of which occurs quite quickly and does not require surgical intervention. However, such an injury still has a rehabilitation period, and when it is received, it is best to immediately consult a doctor.

Types of sprains

Ligaments are bundles of connective tissue that protect and strengthen joints. They provide the joint with stability, mobility and strength. A sprain is an injury to the connective fibers of the tissue. The degree of damage is estimated based on the number of fibers that have suffered damage.

In this case, an injury to the ligaments may be accompanied by a tear or their complete rupture. Ligament sprains most often occur due to a large mechanical load on them and sharp and atypical joint movements.

The main symptoms of a sprain are:

• severe pain when injured;


• the appearance of edema in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe damaged joint.

Athletes, children and people leading an active lifestyle are especially often affected. Among the most common locations for sprains are the ankle, knee and elbow joints. Treatment of a sprain is necessary for almost any joint injury. The most painful are ankle and knee sprains.

What to do with stretching

Timely treatment of a sprain can prevent the situation from worsening and greatly facilitate subsequent treatment. Therefore, everyone should know first aid tips in such a situation, because a sprain is an injury that each of us can get without even playing sports. When you get a ligament injury that looks like a sprain, you need to:

• ensure peace and immobility of the injured leg or arm;


• apply a tight fixing bandage with an elastic bandage or improvised means (scarf, scarf, etc.);


• if a ligament rupture is suspected (excessive joint mobility), it is necessary to apply a splint from improvised means (plywood, board, ruler, etc.) on the sides of the injured joint;


• to reduce pain and swelling during the first 2 hours after the injury, a cold compress or ice wrapped in a cloth should be applied to the damaged joint so that there is no direct contact between ice and skin;


• when bruising of the injured limb occurs, it is necessary to give an elevated position in order to avoid an increase in edema;


• first aid for sprains also includes the application of anti-inflammatory gels and ointments (nurofen-gel, efkamon, fastum-gel, etc.)

Timely first aid for sprains will help reduce the recovery period to 5-10 days. Even with a slight sprain, it is necessary to consult a doctor in order to avoid serious consequences that may lie behind a small injury.

Traumatism is quite common in everyday life. At least a person gets injured while playing sports. As a rule, the ligaments of the arms, legs, hips, ankles, shoulders, elbows are damaged.

A ligament is a strong, flexible tissue that holds bones together. Sprains are injuries around the joints.

The duration of the rehabilitation period depends on:

• Completeness, depth of damage to the ligaments.
• The first medical procedures.
• From restoration measures in general.

It follows from this that with prompt first aid and proper treatment, the restoration of human health will not take much time. If the first actions were incorrect, the rehabilitation period lasts a long time. That is why in the article we will talk about what to do with sprains.

First aid

As soon as we get a sprain, we begin treatment. Delay is costly, the victim will pay with health. The more productive the first steps are, the faster the recovery will come.

In the event of an injury, no special medical education is required to help yourself or others. But since a torn ligament can occur at any time, everyone must learn the phased actions when providing first aid.

Immediate steps:

1. The damaged part of the body must be kept without movement.
2. To relieve swelling, apply cold to the injured ligament. Ice is wrapped in some kind of cloth. The procedure lasts about fifteen minutes with a half-hour break. If the bruise was severe, the activities continue to be done during the first day.
3. The damaged part of the body is wrapped with a bandage to immobilize the limb. If necessary, the tire is fixed.
4. With a severe injury (that is, a grade 3 sprain), the limb is not moved for a couple of days.

We make a bandage for about 7 days (several weeks for complex injuries), until the patient's pain disappears. In the early days, a person should drink plenty of fluids.

With a very strong pain syndrome, the doctor prescribes anti-inflammatory drugs,. Drugs must be taken because they effectively extinguish pain, relieve swelling, and prevent infection in the body.

If necessary, the victim uses crutches.

A doctor must be consulted if a fracture is suspected, two-day swelling, fever, if the pain persists for 2 weeks or more.

peace

The damaged ligament must necessarily be in functional rest. Even a little physical activity will aggravate the situation of a person. The consequences of driving are dangerous:

• Tearing of internal tissues.
• Bleeding.
• Damage to the joint capsule.

Even with a slight stretching, it is forbidden to load the affected area during the first week.

Pay attention to the following:

1. As prescribed by the doctor, start an active lifestyle in a timely manner, strain the damaged joint. Otherwise, there is stagnation of blood, restriction of movement (deformation processes) in the affected area, muscle atrophy.
2. The only reason not to join an active life is the incessant pain, which indicates that rehabilitation measures have not yet ended.

There are many techniques for developing damaged joints. The decision on which one is right for you can only be made by a doctor.

bandaging

Due to the immobilization of the affected area, restriction of movement. It's just important that a knowledgeable person puts on a bandage.

Bandage Functions:

• Reduce swelling, relieve pain.
• Due to the fixation, hemorrhage does not occur in the articular part.
• Helps to avoid complications.

For those who do not know how to properly use an elastic bandage, a ready-made bandage, caliper is sold. Each type of joint has its own product type. But if an elastic bandage can be purchased at any pharmacy, then special bandages are sold in a specialized store.

cold benefits

Qualitatively relieves pain symptoms with a heating pad with ice or a cold compress. If there is no ice on hand, you need to take the usual frozen vegetables in a plastic bag that are in the freezer. The container must be additionally wrapped in a towel. With such actions, the victim is not threatened, most of the swelling will be removed, and the pain will decrease. The compress is applied to the damaged ligament every 2–2.5 hours for literally 20 minutes.

The patient in this case must listen to his body. Apply cold until complete recovery.

There are special formulations for cooling bruised areas. The spray contains substances that, when applied to the skin, freeze the surface immediately. Coolant tubes are indispensable in sports after getting stretched.

Correct position

If the ligament with the joint is damaged, the affected area must be located above the level of the heart in order for blood to flow out. This event is important because it relieves swelling, swelling, will not allow blood flow to the affected area, which means that the risk of bleeding is reduced.

Anesthesia

Painful spasms are observed even with a sprain of the 1st degree. If the pain is severe, and the ambulance has not yet arrived, we drink no more than two tablets of analgesics. Even with a serious injury, these measures are effective.

Prohibited actions

Quite often, a person who has been injured is lost due to pain, he immediately “flys out all useful thoughts”. And if it is possible to delay the provision of first aid (ambulance doctors will do all the necessary measures themselves), then there are things that are strictly prohibited in this situation, and it is important to remember them.

1. You can not apply warming ointments, hot compresses to the damaged area, do hot procedures.
2. Do not drink alcohol after injury. Pain, swelling from this will only intensify.

Kneading, rubbing, increased activity is strictly prohibited - these actions will provoke additional complications.

Conservative therapy

Depending on the degree of damage to the joint and ligaments, treatment is carried out inpatient or outpatient. Conservative treatment involves taking several types of tablets.

First of all, the patient is prescribed a course of analgesics, anti-inflammatory drugs. Medicines are both intramuscular and are available in the form of a cooling gel, ointment, cream. The most requested tools are:

• Diclofenac.
• Ibuprofen.
• Among the popular ones are Indovazin, Ketonal,.

Do not forget that bruises and hematomas appear around the affected area. We smear the joint with a heparin compound (Troxevasin) so that there is no blood clot, accumulation of bruises. With uncontrollable pain, we use anesthetic agents (Novocain).

As prescribed by the doctor, warming ointments are used, but these medicines are prescribed only in the recovery period. The compositions contain bee, snake venom (), other warming components that are allergens for the human body. We take in moderate doses.

In what period do we need to seek qualified help:

1. The movement of the affected area is limited, vigorous activity is impossible.
2. Painful shock that lasts more than one hour.
3. The edema is constantly increasing, it is impossible to remove it on its own.
4. The fever starts.
5. All signs of severe stretching (swelling, redness, fever in the area of ​​injury, cramps).
6. The above symptoms do not go away within a few days.

In some cases, it may not be a bruise, but a fracture, a torn ligament, or serious damage to the joint.

ethnoscience

Do not forget about folk remedies. But they do not replace standard treatment, but are only an addition to it.

What will be effective for bruising:

• Salty dough. One by one, mix flour with salt to knead a stiff dough. Add a little water to the resulting composition. Roll out, cut into strips, attach to the sore spot. There must be a warm bandage at the top. Pain will be gone by morning.
• DIY mix. Laundry soap is rubbed on a grater, mixed with egg yolk. Water is added to obtain a homogeneous mass. The resulting solution is impregnated with a bandage folded in several layers. Very soon there will be no trace left of the bruise.
• Onion remedy. Cut the onion into small pieces, add sugar, mix thoroughly so that it dissolves. A large layer of the composition falls on the gauze, the fabric is applied to the place of stretching. The dressing is changed only after a day.
• Vitamin C. A bruise is inevitable with a bruise. To get rid of darkening on the skin, you need vitamin C in large quantities. It can be replenished through food. Eat more green onions, citrus fruits, sauerkraut. If necessary, drugs are bought at a pharmacy, but only as prescribed by a doctor.
• Iodine grid. When several hours have passed after the injury, a mesh is made with iodine. First, we apply a small amount of the drug to the skin to determine the degree of allergenicity, then, if everything is fine, we make a full-fledged mesh. For treatment, a five percent solution of the drug is required. We draw the grid in such a way that the resulting cell is at least 1 centimeter in diameter.
• Clay compress. In a blender, beat raw potatoes and part of onions. A little sugar and 3 tablespoons of clay are added to the gruel. Everything is mixed and applied to the tissue, which is applied to the bruise. Wrap with cling film on top, wrap with warm material. The course of treatment lasts several days, the dressing is changed every four hours.
• Hops ordinary. At the end of summer, the inflorescence is harvested, when the fruits have just begun to ripen. The cut plant is dried in the shade. We take 3 tablespoons of ordinary hops, pour boiling water over it, let the composition brew for about half an hour, then filter. It is good to apply compresses to the stretch.
• Plantain leaf. We collect the plant during the three summer months. The leaves are dried in a dark, well-ventilated place. Shredded dried plantain is poured with boiling water in a ratio of 1:5. The resulting consistency is infused for several hours, after which the compress is ready.

Thus, a simple sprain for an ignorant person will be a stalemate. But there is no need to be very upset - if there are problems with treatment, you can always contact the clinic. Only in severe cases, surgical intervention is required, and the doctor will always suggest effective measures.

Surgical intervention

Surgical intervention is used when we do not get positive results with conservative treatment. Quite often, professional athletes go through the operation so that the joints with ligaments function as before.

Most often, patients are sent for arthroscopy. During the procedure, the reconstruction or replacement of the damaged ligamentous fragment is performed. After arthroscopic intervention, people recover very quickly, since only 3 small punctures are made by a specialist. And after the operation, a relatively easy rehabilitation period.

Surgical assistance is relevant in the first hours after the injury, after a month's treatment of a bruise.

Rehabilitation activities

As soon as the acute period of the disease has passed, there are no more severe pains, we proceed to rehabilitation measures. The main task in this period is to return the damaged place to full capacity for work. Not to be missed:

• Physiotherapy.
• Massage.
• Physical exercises (physiotherapy exercises).

Procedures are carried out at home, in a local hospital, specialized rehabilitation centers.

With a slight stretching, a fixing bandage, anti-inflammatory compounds, medicines are used to strengthen the walls of the vessel. The patient is at rest.

Physical exercises are very important, which will help develop the articulation, strengthen the muscles. Therapeutic exercise is carried out after consultation with the attending physician.

Joint correct actions will surely give their positive results.

Stretching the muscles of the leg is an injury that is not particularly serious. But because of the bright pain syndrome, it causes considerable discomfort. And since such a nuisance can happen to anyone at the most unexpected moment, you need to know what to do if you pulled a muscle in your leg, how to give first aid, how and according to what scheme to treat a sprain.

The symptoms of injury can vary. Except for the pain that accompanies sprained leg muscles anyway.

The sharp pain that occurs at the time of damage to muscle tissue can be very strong or slight, pulsating or continuous. In the absence of a load on the limb, in a stationary state, pain subsides. When moving, touching the place of damage, the pain flares up again.

Depending on the severity of the leg muscle strain, the following symptoms are characteristic:

1. Moderate stretching (initial degree) is accompanied by tolerable pain, which disappears in 3-4 days.
2. Moderate damage is characterized by pronounced pain of varying intensity, which occurs with the slightest movement, contraction of muscle fibers. If blood vessels are damaged, subcutaneous hemorrhage occurs, a hematoma occurs. Soft tissues in the area of ​​injury swell, the patient complains of weakness of the injured limb. Motor activity is limited.
3. When the muscles of a severe degree are stretched, the muscle fibers are torn, in some cases they are separated from the tendons on the foot, in the area of ​​the knee or hip joint. All this is manifested by severe pain, severe swelling, subcutaneous bruising and hematomas. Excruciating pain occurs at the slightest load on the leg or touching the site of injury.

Muscles can stretch for a variety of reasons. However, regardless of the circumstances, emergency measures must be taken immediately.

First aid

As soon as there is a feeling that the muscle on the leg has stretched, even if the pain is insignificant, you need to stop all actions performed before the moment of injury. It is important to ensure complete rest of the injured limb in order to reduce pain as much as possible. To drain blood under the leg, you need to place any object so that it remains elevated all the time.

Attention! When stretched by any force of gravity, the leg must be at rest for at least 48 hours.

First aid measures for sprained muscles on the leg are to cool the injured area. For a compress use any improvised means:

• a towel soaked in water (shawl, T-shirt, etc.);
• ice cubes in a bag;
• snow;
• food from the freezer.

Before applying a cooling compress to the injury site, when a muscle in the leg is stretched, an ice pack (snow, frozen foods) must be wrapped in a dry, soft towel. Cold should be on the stretch for only 15-20 minutes. Then the procedures are repeated every 3-4 hours.

At the end of first aid, a tight fixing bandage is applied, which limits the range of motion of the limb. This should be done immediately if you pulled a muscle in your leg.

Painkillers

During the first days after the injury, topical preparations are used to reduce severe pain: Voltaren emulgel, Fastumgel, Lidocaine, Golden Star balm.

Gels used for vein diseases are recognized as effective in treatment:

• Troxevasin;
• Essaven-gel;
• Heparin gel;
• Indovazin;
• Rutoside.

These preparations favorably differ from ointments and creams in their ability to be well absorbed into the skin, due to which the effect of cooling and anesthetizing tissues is achieved faster.

Further treatment

After two days after the injury, the treatment of sprains involves the use of warming, anti-inflammatory, vasodilators, absorbable topical preparations. The duration and regimen of therapy depend on the severity of the injury.

With slight stretching, the use of warming ointments and gels is sufficient. Such activities are carried out at home, independently.

Ointments aimed at activating local blood circulation, stopping the inflammatory process, and healing damaged tissues help to quickly restore muscle fibers damaged by tensile injury:

• Finalgon;
• Nicoflex;
• Espol;
• Efkamon;
• Sanitas.

The use of such drugs in local therapy of stretching helps to eliminate pain, swelling, resorption of hematomas. The course of treatment lasts 3-5 days.

Attention! Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and homeopathic remedies can be used in the treatment of sprains only on prescription.

What to do with a moderate sprain? At home, all the same warming ointments and gels are used. Warm herbal or manganese baths are shown. To increase blood flow and reduce swelling of damaged tissues, it is recommended to do a light foot massage daily. Recovery occurs in 10-15 days.

With a severe degree of sprain, you can not do without the help of a specialist. When the muscle fibers are torn, surgery is required, since the tissues cannot recover on their own. Surgical treatment is also necessary in cases where the muscles have been torn off the tendons or large blood vessels have been damaged as a result of injury.

After surgery, the treatment of severe sprains consists of first aid measures. Absolute rest, cold compresses and a compressive fixation bandage are required. During the period of rehabilitation and recovery, the patient is shown physiotherapy procedures, massage, therapeutic exercises. The course of therapy - up to 2 months.