Sprained Ankle - One Of The More Common Sports Injuries

Massage Therapy for Sprains

Keeping in mind that the best advice for a major injury is always given by your doctor, there are several steps that you can take in order to alleviate the pain and aid in the healing process of a mild ankle sprain.

This type of injury typically happens when the ankle is rolled in one direction or the other and the ligaments and tendons which give it support and hold it upright are stretched too far. The result is a painful injury that can lead to swelling and immobility. As with any injury, you should immediately ice the ankle. The ice constricts the blood vessels in the affected area, thus restricting blood flow. This restriction in blood flow help to control the swelling. The ice help to numb the pain as well. You should continue to ice the injury for 20 minutes several times a day.

Of course, for minor discomfort you can take an anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen to relieve some of the stiffness caused by inflammation. If your condition doesn’t improve over a few days and the injury is causing enough pain that it prevents you from walking, you may have to go see a doctor for x-rays. More pain is a clear sign that something isn’t right and you will need a professional’s opinion.

As your ligaments and tendons work to repair and strengthen themselves, you may want to take it easy for a while. Because they have been over stretched beyond their normal capability, they will not be as strong and the likelyhood that you might injure yourself again is increased when your body is regaining its strength. You can help your body recover by giving the injured ankle some additional support. You can by supportive ankle braces over the counter at many pharmacies or sporting goods stores. These will have a tight fit over a persons foot as well as the ankle and provide a degree of support to supplement your normal strength of your ankle, which could be lowered due to injury. While it is ok to use these supports during the recovery phase, you may want to consult a doctor about prolonged use, as your body can grow to depend on the brace for support and never truly regain its own strength.

You may treat the injury at home, however if you do not see improvement after a few days then you might have a much deeper problem. You might have torn a ligament or a tendon, or you might have a small fracture. All of these can do permanent damage if they are not properly diagnosed and treated. While it is fine to try to treat your injury and recover on your own, you do have to heed the warning signs should ice or ibuprofen not work.

To find out more head on over to Senior Bodybuilding and at Hgh Bodybuilding and more information at Muscle Building Programs