In this week’s episode of Survivor South Africa 2, Hein sprains his ankle. Health24 takes a look at what a sprain is and how it can be treated.
What is a sprain?
When the ligaments around a joint are overstretched, or when they tear, this can result in a sprain. It is often caused by a sudden wrench, or twist, which causes the bones of a joint to separate unduly and the most common sprains happen to the ankle, the knee and the wrist.
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Symptoms of a sprain
Some indications of a sprain include:
Bleeding into the tissues, which causes swelling;
Bruising around the injured area;
Limitations to movement and painful movement owing to tissue swelling and damage;
Inflammation of the affected area;
Movement of the injured tissues will be painful.
How is a sprain treated?
Minor sprains can be treated at home using the following measures. It is best to treat the affected area immediately as this can reduce swelling and ensure a speedy recovery.
The RICE method
This stands for Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation and is the most commonly used method for treating such injuries.
The idea is to rest the injured part, especially for the first 24 to 48 hours after the injury. Avoid any activity that causes pain or makes it worse. Use crutches if the leg, foot or ankle is injured.
Hein did not rest his ankle properly and was often seen limping around the island and using a stick as a crutch to support himself.
Ice is an anti-inflammatory and reduces swelling and pain and should be applied for 10-15 minutes as soon as possible after an injury.
Repeat each hour for the first three or four hours. After that, repeat four times a day for the next two to three days. If ice packs are not available, a packet of frozen vegetables in a cloth will do.
Compression also reduces swelling. The best way to do this is to use elastic bandages for at least two days. The bandages should fit snugly, but not too tightly. They should be removed at night.
Elevation drains fluids from injured tissues. The injured area, in this case the ankle, should be elevated whenever you are sitting or lying down and the injured area should be raised at or above the level of the heart.
What not to do
After Hein has sprained his ankle, we see him lying next to the fire in the evenings, because he said that his ankle felt better when it was warm.
However, this is not advised as for the first two days after the injury, as the heat will increase the swelling.
It is unclear in this episode whether Hein actually receives any medication for the pain, although it is often recommended that paracetamol be used for the first day of the injury, since it will reduce pain without increasing bleeding.
Thereafter, ibuprofen (or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories) or aspirin is a good choice.
Movement after injury
It is commonly advised that following 48 hours of rest, the injured joint/limb should be moved gently, but only enough not to cause pain.
This movement should be gradually increased to improve range of motion.
Any sprain still symptomatic after six weeks should be reviewed for instability, bone or cartilage damage.
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