A slip in the shower…a hop off a ladder… One wrong move, and suddenly you’re out of commission. While the injury isn’t necessarily cast-worthy, a sprain can be painful, and the healing process can be painstaking.

The good news is that you can make the most of your recuperation time by following a few helpful hints that will speed up the recovery process – and have you back on your feet before you know it.

What and Where We Sprain

A sprain is an injury to a ligament, the tissue that connects two or more bones at a joint. When one or more ligaments is stretched or torn, a sprain occurs. (Equally painful can be a strain, an injury to a muscle or a tendon, the tissue that connects muscle to bone. In a strain, a muscle or tendon is stretched or torn.)

What do we sprain? The most common place is the ankle, followed by the wrist after a fall. We even sprain our thumbs often, and twisting a knee may mean a sprain. Many strain their backs and hamstring muscles in the backs of the thighs.

How do you know your injury is a sprain? The common symptoms are:

·      Pain

·      Swelling

·      Bruising

·      Not being able to move or use the joint

Always check with a medical professional if your symptoms are extreme and pain is severe. But if you are diagnosed or know that it is a sprain that can be healed at home, there is a simple approach.