Knee/sprains are an unpleasant experience that most of us who play any kind of sport are familiar with. You don’t have to be playing sports to sprain your ankle though. It can happen just while walking down the street. What is a sprain and what can you do about it?
What Are Sprains?
Sprains are an overstretching or tearing of the ligaments that connect bones together to form a joint. The joint most vulnerable to sprain is the ankle. The distinction between a sprain and a strain is that sprains affect the ligaments connecting two bones, while strains affect the tissue that connects muscle with bone.
What Causes Sprains?
A sprain is usually caused by stepping improperly, moving your ankle or knee too quickly in an unexpected direction, or having your ankle stepped on, all of which can stretch the ligaments to the point of overstretching or tearing. Your sprain can be quite painful and is typically followed by notable swelling, bruising, and difficulty moving the joint.
How Do We Treat Sprains?
We will examine the joint to see if it seems like you have an overstretching or a tear. If the sprain is merely a ligament overstretch, some combination of ice, rest, elevation, and time should resolve the problems, with over-the-counter analgesics to manage the pain. If there is a tear in the ligament, you may require surgery, which is why it is important to have us examine the sprain.
BeWell Immediate Care for Sprains Near Whittier, CA
If you have a concern that your sprain is a ligament tear and you are in the Whittier, CA area, it’s easy to find out. Just walk right into our 12533 Washington Blvd, Suite B clinic, and have one of our team look at you. You can be in and out in as little as 30 minutes and a standard visit is only $50, or $40 for a virtual consult. Simply come in or schedule a consultation.