Mainly, sprains are caused because of the stretching or tearing of ligaments resulting in restriction of your movement. For this injury, the prime reason is the sudden change of direction or due to a collision. There are common parts affected such as the ankles, wrists, and knees.

Sprain on the other hand is the tearing and stretching of the muscles. Contraction or stretching of the muscles is the cause of this injury. This, however, 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

You can refer to resting as the best thing you can 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.

Using an ice pack is considered a great way to reduce pain, inflammation and swelling. For 15-20 minutes, you need to keep it on the affected area 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. What this does is tighten the strained or sprained area by avoiding further injury.

You can help in decreasing the swelling if you keep the injured part elevated. The best position to keep the injured part elevated is above your heart level.

Here are Some 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.

By consuming aspirin or ibuprofen, you can get some relief from the swelling and the pain

Massaging the affected area with comfrey oil or cream can help in alleviating the pain.

Try using five drops of thyme oil diluted either in bathwater or some other oil as a compress to help you get rid of swelling.

Arnica balm or ointment can be used as cream or a compress for the affected area.

For such injuries, horse chestnut can also be very useful. It becomes beneficial for all kinds of injuries due to its anti-inflammatory properties and presence of a compound called aescin. Spreading the gel on the affected area every two hours till the pain subsides is what you can do.

A word of caution. All precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article should be exercised by the reader of this article. If you are allergic to any of these products, then it is best to avoid using any of them. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.

We’re your guide to eating healthy and better living. Learn the basics of eating healthy for a longer, healthier and happier life.