By Sharon Hopkins
Sprains are mainly caused due to stretching or tearing of
ligaments resulting in restriction of your movement. The prime
reason for this injury is the sudden change of direction or due
to a collision. The common parts affected are the ankles, wrists
and knees.
Sprain on the other hand is the tearing and stretching of the
muscles. This happens due to contraction or stretching of
muscles. But this can turn into a chronic strain if the muscles
are overworked. We usually term this occurrence as pulling of
the muscle. Some of the common places of strains are hamstring
and back.
Self-Care Measures
Resting can be termed as the best thing to do during this time.
Any kind of activity should be avoided which may cause pain,
swelling or any other discomfort. You can still exercise to
rejuvenate other muscles which need to be conditioned.
Ice pack is great way to reduce pain, inflammation and
swelling. Keep it on the affected area for 15-20 minutes and
repeat it every two to three hours to minimize the pain.
The use of compression helps in compressing the pain with use
of elastic tapes, bandages, special boots, air casts and
splints. This tightens the strained or sprained area by
avoiding further injury.
By keeping the injured part elevated you can help in decreasing
the swelling. The best position to keep the injured part
elevated is above your heart level.
Home Remedies for Sprains and Strains
You can expect to get well soon from the agonizing sprain by
making pineapple part of your staple diet and that too in good
quantity. The contents in pineapple have bromelain, an enzyme
which quickens the healing process. The side effects of
bromelain causes dermatitis, so if your skin itches due to the
pineapple diet, stop it immediately.
You can consume aspirin or ibuprofen to get relieve from the
swelling and pain
Massaging the affected area with comfrey oil or cream can help
in alleviating the pain.
Five drops of thyme oil diluted either in bathwater or some
other oil can be used as a compress to get rid of swelling.
Arnica balm or ointment can be used as cream or a compress for
the affected area.
Horse chestnut is also very useful for such injuries. Due to
its anti-inflammatory properties and presence of a compound
called aescin it becomes beneficial for all kinds of injuries.
You can spread this gel on the affected area every two hours
till the pain subsides.
Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all
precautionary measures while following instructions on the home
remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if
you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader
and not with the site or the writer.
About the Author: Sharon Hopkins handles many websites relating
to natural home remedies such as
http://www.home-remedies-for-you.com, which has lot of
information on home based natural cures and remedies. Sprain
and Strain is a common occurrence in our life and can be
treated with simple home remedies.
Source: http://www.isnare.com
