Football season is in full swing this fall along with many other sports. While you are playing sports recreationally or competitively, there’s always a possibility of an injury. One of the most common injuries from playing sports is a sprain or a strain, particularly in the ankle, wrist or even the thumb. A strain occurs when a ligament (a tissue that connects two or more bones at one joint) is stretched, and a sprain occurs when a ligament is torn.
If you think you’ve sprained or strained your ankle or wrist, the first thing to do is visit the doctor to make sure it’s nothing more serious. The doctor may issue an x-ray to make sure your ankle or wrist is not broken. Many people avoid going to the doctor because their primary physician does not offer convenient hours and they don’t want to spend hours in a hospital waiting room. Emergi-Care is the perfect alternative to an inconvenient physician and an overcrowded hospital. Emergi-Care is fully equipped with an x-ray machine and experienced doctors and staff that have the knowledge to treat a sprain or a strain, but without the wait time or inconvenience for you.
Typically doctors encourage their patients to rest and apply ice to a sprain in order to reduce the pain and swelling during the first day or two. When in doubt, if you have a sprain, just remember RICE:
- Rest (the injured part of the body)
- Ice (apply cold packs to the injury to help decrease swelling)
- Compression (wrap the injury firmly with an elastic compression bandage or splint to prevent and decrease swelling)
- Elevation (raise the injured part so it’s higher than your heart, also to prevent swelling)
A sprain typically takes about a week to heal, though in some cases, it can take up to 4 weeks or more. It’s important to follow your doctor’s orders while caring for your sprain or strain. If you don’t take the time to properly care for your injury, it may not heal completely. The doctors at Emergi-Care can help you heal your injury correctly and can give you tips on how to reduce your chances of experiencing another sprain or strain while playing sports.
Emergi-Care is a fully licensed, freestanding critical care clinic in Houston, Texas, providing the NASA area community with a convenient alternative to overcrowded hospitals and urgent care centers by delivering fast, friendly, high-quality medical treatment in a comfortable neighborhood setting. For more information visit Emergi-Care’s website or Facebook page.