Sprain Strain injuries take time to heal
Chiropractor Vero Beach, Fl.- Regardless of the mechanism of injury, sprain/strain type injuries are all very alike. They may vary in intensity, but they all go through the same physiology during and after injury. It might be a whiplash from a car crash or strained neck from 6 back-to-back games of lacrosse. When something strained it means a muscle or tendon have been injured. When sprain is used it means a ligament has been injured. They often coexist but can be independent from each other so you can have one without the other. They usually heal in around 2-6 weeks depending on severity but can also take months. Ice is usually the first form of defense to reduce inflammation and promote the healing process. This can also reduce swelling in the area which tends to prolong the injury. Rest in the beginning is usually a good idea in association with the ice, but after 4- or 5-days, rehab can begin the muscles that have been injured in the area in the case of a strain. A sprain should be rested and iced until healed. I am not a fan of heating the area due the risk of reigniting the inflammatory process which can set the healing back. Always remember the acronym RICE. Rest, Ice, Elevation and Compression. Rehab should be done slowly and just before the point pf pain to make sure you don’t reinjure the area. Dr. Thomas Harmody is a chiropractor at Vero Walk-In Chiropractic and Wellness in Vero Beach, Fl.
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