A sprain is an injury to a ligament which is a thick tissue that connects bones together. The most injured ligament in the body are the ankles. Usually ligaments are injured by being stretched far from their normal position.
Having ligaments in your body holds your skeleton comprised of bones together in a normal alignment so that abnormal movements are prevented. When too violent much force is applied to a ligament it can be stretched, torn and pulled apart resulting in injury.
A sprain is classified into three different grades depending upon the amount of damage to the ligament. Going from mild in a Grade I and Grade II sprain which can usually be treated with ice, anti-inflamatories and physical therapy to Grade III which is the most serious type of sprains.
In the worse case scenario an operation is needed to repair the ligament if torn or badly damaged!
A sprain can be very painful and can hamper movement. Once the sprain occurs it will create weak point in the body that will be prone to future injuries. This is especially true with ankles & knees which bear so much of the body's weight.
Once twisted the tendency will be to favor the weak ankle or knee and this in turn puts more strain on the other ankle or knee which puts the body out of normal alignment. The best way to treat a sprain after recovery is to build up the muscles and ligaments through strength training which protects the ankle from inside out. If you are going to participate in any type of physical activity that may further damage the sprained ligament a good warmup and brace is recommended. These may not prevent further injury but may minimize the damage.
As careful as you are all it takes is a slip on ice or a missed step which causes the damage. Immediately after the injury keep it well iced and raised up in an immobile position to help reduce the swelling and inflammation. Aspirin or another type of anti-inflammatory is recommended according to your doctors advise. Topical treatments such as balms, ointments and rubs can be helpful at this point to provide pain relief to the damaged ligament and promote healing through the action of the active ingredients
Use only all natural products without synthetic compounds! The whole purpose of the topical rubs is to provide immediate pain relief to the affected area. Another benefit gained by using a good muscle rub is the healing properties of the particular muscle rub or balm many of which are utilized by holistic medicine practitioners and alternative therapy doctors.
All types of sprains especially ankles can be very painful and if you are going to use a topical treatment then possibly ultra r-x plus "advanced formula" can help relieve the pain while promoting the healing process. This all natural therapeutic balm consists of over twenty active ingredients which are the rare botanical essential oils blended in a pure beeswax and carrier oil base.
Capsicum, arnica and sweet birch are just a few of the proven natural botanical based compounds that help relieve pain that have been used for thousands of years. The powerful holistic synergy of Ultra R-X Plus is the result of all the rare essential oils blended with the carrier oils in a pure beeswax base. It is unparalleled in its ability to relieve muscle aches, joint pains, sprains and muscle tenderness. The blended carrier oils also work in harmony with the skin to provide a superior analgesic mixture that facilitates easy absorption of the rare essential oil formulation.
This transdermal absorption of the essential oils provides quick,deep penetrating & long lasting therapeutic relief where you need it most for only pennies per application! Instead of using products that only stay on the surface of the skin like most of the petroleum based topical rubs make sure you use something as good as Ultra R-X Plus which is easily absorbed through the skin and directly into the sprained area
Regardless of what you use remember it takes time for the healing to be completed and any further injury to the same ligament will increase the recovery time. If the sprain does not get batter in a week or so then it may require a visit to your doctor to ascertain the extent of the sprain. There are three different grades, Grade 1, Grade 2 and Grade 3 which is the most serious
Worse case
situation may require a soft cast and crutches to keep weight off the sprain if it is located in your knee, ankle or thigh muscles. MRI's are usually the last resort to determine if the sprain involves a break or fracture. If the sprain is serious enough it may be necessary to immobilize the sprained area until recovery occurs.