How do you help someone with a sprained ankle?
How do you help someone with a sprained ankle?
Compression helps decrease swelling and provides stability to your ankle by immobilizing it. You should apply a compression bandage as soon as a sprain occurs. Wrap your ankle with an elastic bandage, such as an ACE bandage, and leave it on for 48 to 72 hours. Wrap the bandage snugly, but not tightly.
How do you deal with a client or colleague who has sprained his her ankle?
Rest the ankle (use crutches if needed) Ice the ankle for 20 to 30 minutes every 2 to 3 hours for the first 2 days. Compress (wrap) the ankle lightly — not tightly — with an elastic bandage or ankle brace. For the first 48 hours, elevate (raise) the ankle higher than your heart whenever you’re lying down.
How do you treat someone who is suffering from a sprain or a strain?
What to Do
- Rest: Rest the injured part until it’s less painful.
- Ice: Wrap an icepack or cold compress in a towel and place over the injured part immediately.
- Compression: Support the injured part with an elastic compression bandage for at least 2 days.
What is the best remedy to attend a victim who experiences ankle sprain?
Try to ice the area as soon as possible after the injury and continue to ice it for 15 to 20 minutes, four to eight times a day, for the first 48 hours or until swelling improves. If you use ice, be careful not to use it too long, as this could cause tissue damage. Compress the area with an elastic wrap or bandage.
Can a sprained ankle be treated as a fracture?
It is often difficult to decide whether an ankle joint is fractured or sprained, and unless there are obvious signs of fractures, the injury should be managed as a soft tissue injury. The thigh bone is a very large bone and fractures can involve significant blood loss.
When to see a doctor for a sprained ankle?
If a sprain is not treated properly, you could have long-term problems. A sprain can be difficult to differentiate from a broken bone without an X-ray. If you are unable to put weight on your foot after this type of injury, or if there is significant swelling, bruising, or deformity, you should seek medical treatment from a doctor (MD or DO).
How to treat a wrist or arm sprain?
Elevate the sprained joint above your heart, if possible. Elevation helps minimize or prevent swelling. Try to keep the injured body part elevated for 2 to 3 hours each day. Sit or lie down with the injured knee or ankle propped up on a cushion. Use a sling for wrist or arm sprains to bring the limb above the heart.
When to apply an ice pack to a sprained ankle?
Attempting to return to sports or other activities too quickly increases the risk of another injury. Using an ice pack may reduce blood flow to the injury and help ease pain and swelling. The American Academy of Family Physicians suggest applying an ice pack to the sprain for 10–20 minutes at a time.
How is a high ankle sprain treated?
Physical therapy is often a part of the treatment for high ankle sprain. Massages may be recommended to the person to ease the pain. Electrical stimulation may also have to be used in certain conditions.
Why does my sprained ankle hurt?
A sprained ankle is an injury that happens when you twist, turn or roll your ankle in an unfamiliar way. The reason why a sprained ankle hurts so much is due to the inflammation. Long story, short, blood vessels are disturbed because of the sprain, allowing fluid to ooze into the soft tissue surrounding the joint.
Does a sprained ankle hurt?
Sprained ankles can cause severe ankle pain, swelling, and inability to walk or stand. It is important to note that the ankle derives its strength from the tendons in the leg that cross the ankle joint and attach to the foot.