The sprained knees can be a painful injury, as it involves one of the most used joints in your body. When you sprain your knee, the damage comes from an impact that stretches or tears the ligaments surrounding the knee joint, resulting in swelling and instability. While most people experience sprained knees during sports activities such as basketball, football, or baseball, there are other reasons you might experience this common injury, such as slipping on ice or falling down stairs.
What Is a Sprain?
A sprain is an injury to a ligament or tendon that is stretched, pulled, or twisted beyond its normal limits. Usually, the ligaments and tendons in your feet and ankles are subject to this type of injury when you fall or land awkwardly. The severity of the sprain depends on how much it was stretched. A mild sprain may only be a partial tear while a severe sprain can be complete rupture. Common symptoms of a sprained ankle include pain, swelling, bruising, and difficulty moving the affected area. Fortunately, most sprains heal with time and some basic steps to reduce pain and inflammation. -First, avoid walking on the injured foot if possible; switch to crutches, if necessary. -Second, elevate the foot and ice it for 20 minutes every hour for up to three days following the injury (unless otherwise instructed by your doctor). -Third, use aspirin or ibuprofen for pain relief. Finally, take steps to limit weight-bearing on the injured foot (if you don’t have crutches) by elevating it as well as wearing supportive footwear like low-heeled slippers or flats during daytime activities.
The Healing Process?
A sprain is an injury to a ligament, typically one of the four major ligaments that connects two bones together in your ankle or foot. When these ligaments are overstretched or torn, they can cause pain and swelling that ranges from mild to severe. Sprains can happen at any time, but they’re most common in sports such as basketball or football when someone falls and twists their ankle. Treatment for a sprain includes rest, ice therapy, compression and elevation.
Recovering From a Sprain?
- Put an ice pack over the knee for 20 minutes.
- Stretch your leg by extending your foot straight out in front of you and then bending your knee towards your chest with a hand placed behind it for support. Hold this stretch for 15 seconds and repeat three times each leg at least once per day until swelling subsides or pain goes away.
Protect Yourself From Future Injuries?
It’s good to know what you can do to prevent future injuries. The best thing you can do is to avoid doing anything that could cause a sprain in the first place. This includes wearing supportive, non-slip shoes and not running in slippery areas like a freshly waxed floor. If you fall, it’s important to stay calm and not put any weight on your injured knee until it’s been evaluated by a medical professional.
Sprained knees are a common injury, particularly among athletes. The most common type of knee sprain occurs when the foot hits the ground and the knee twists, causing the ligaments to overstretch or tear. This can be a very painful injury, and often requires a period of rest and rehabilitation before the individual can return to their previous level of activity.
So, how long does it take to recover from a sprained knee? That depends on the severity of the injury. A mild sprain may only require a week or two of rest before you can start using the joint again. More severe sprains may require several weeks or even months of recovery time. In some cases, surgery may be necessary to repair torn ligaments.
If you have suffered a sprained knee, it is important to follow your doctor’s advice regarding treatment and rehabilitation. With proper care, most people make a full recovery from this type of injury and are able to return to their previous level of activity.
