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Sprain, what is it?
A sprain is a traumatic injury to a joint, responsible for stretching or breaking ligaments.
The most affected joints are the ankle; wrist; fingers; knee.
What are the different types of sprains?
- Mild (mild) sprain: Distension of ligaments without rupture;
- Severe sprain: A rupture or tearing of the ligaments.
What are the causes?
- Brutal movement;
- Trauma (shock).
What are the contributing factors?
- Excessive training;
- Sports practice which particularly exposes the joints (football, handball, basketball, skiing, judo, etc.);
- Unsuitable shoes;
- Poor hydration.
What are the signs ?
- Pain (in the joint) immediately or within hours (at night or the next day);
- Localized swelling immediately or a few hours later;
- Hematoma (collection of blood);
- Difficulty moving the joint.
What to do in the event of a sprain?
Follow a protocol called GREC (G: ice; R: rest; E: elevation; C: compression):
- It is imperative to stop sport;
- Put the affected part to rest;
- Cool the wound with cool water or ice;
- Put on a moderately loosely tight bandage.
A medical consultation is still necessary or even essential in order to confirm the diagnosis of the sprain (mild or serious) and to start the appropriate treatment.
How to prevent a sprain?
- Systematic warm-up before any sporting activity;
- Sufficient hydration before, during, and after sporting activity (1.5 liters on average per day, this amount should depend on the intensity of physical activity and the climate);
- Use of suitable footwear.