Sprains And Strains

A strain is actually a stretch distended or ragged muscle or tendon. It may be mentioned here that tendons are basically tissues that attach muscles to bones.

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Any kind of bending or hauling of these tissues may result in a strain. People may endure strains unexpectedly or may even develop them over a period of time. In effect, hamstring and back muscle strains are very widespread. Several people develop strains even while participating in sports. The symptoms of strains may comprise muscle spasms, pain, swelling and difficulty while moving their muscles.

Generally, they occur very frequently in the thigh, calf, groin or shoulders, resulting in pain and rigidness. Sprains are comparable to strains, but are usually graver and even sorer and take a longer time to cure.

A sprain is a tautened or worn out ligament. For the uninitiated, ligaments are actually tissues that bind the bones at any joint. Getting hit, twisted or falling may all result in a sprain. Precisely speaking sprains of ankles and wrists are most common. The symptoms of a sprain may include swelling, pain, damaging and inability to move one's joint. In such cases, you are likely to experience a tear or pop when the injury takes place.

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It may be noted that sprains and strains are caused by physical pressure on the muscles as well as other tissues. Overstretching prior to any exercise, raising any heavy object or excessive swinging a nine iron may generally result in a sprain. In fact, strains are caused by an unexpected force on a muscle, ligament or tendon. Any kind of sudden movement, for instance a fall or any bending motion, may jerk as well as rip these structures.

In the initial stage, curing strains as well as sprains generally entails keeping the injured area in rest, regularly applying ice on the part, wearing any device or bandage that helps to compress the affected area as well as taking and using medications. In the later stages, the treatment may comprise exercises as well as physical therapy.

The factors that add to developing strains and sprains may comprise the following:

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Fatigue
It is unlikely that the exhausted muscles will provide excellent, or for that matter, even adequate support, to your joints. When you feel exhausted, it is likely that you will also give in to forces that might cause pressure on a joint or overstretch any muscle.

Poor conditioning
Absence of conditioning may result in your muscles being feeble as well as more likely to be injured.

Inappropriate warm-up
Appropriate warming up is essential prior to any strenuous physical activity, as it helps to loosen the muscles and enhance the movement of the range of the joints enabling the muscles to be less rigid/ firm as well as less susceptible to tears and strain.

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Supplements and herbs

Apart from taking precautions or self-care initiatives, you may also use herbs and supplements both internally as well as externally to support repair of the damaged tissue as well as make the injured areas strong and lessen inflammation. In fact, herbs and supplements may prove to be highly useful for treating strains and sprains and in most cases, they need to be used just for a brief period - a week or so, or till the injury improves.

It may be noted that a variety of oral supplements available in the market may be useful in hastening the healing process. In effect, all of them may be taken in combination with the conventional analgesics. In case you are enduring a sprain or a strain, you may try taking a high dose of vitamin A for five consecutive days, as this will facilitate the body using protein and repairing the damaged tissue.

On the other hand, antioxidants like vitamin C and flavonoids help in healing as well as in restricting additional injury to the connective tissues and the muscles. Glucosamine is considered to be a cartilage builder (often referred to as the body's shock absorber) and it helps to fortify as well as protect the ligaments and joints.

An enzyme obtained from the pineapple plant called bromelain may also help to avert swelling and lessen inflammation and, by this means, providing relief from pain. In addition, bromelain is also known to encourage blood circulation and, at the same time, hasten the recovery from the condition.

Nevertheless, the amount of bromelain that is actually absorbed orally remains a controversial issue. While it has been found that majority of the people do not require manganese supplements regularly, people enduring sprains or strains may find taking a one week course of manganese supplements beneficial. In effect, manganese has a vital role in maintaining the health of the ligaments and tendons.

In addition to taking herbs and supplements, even external treatments help in recovering from sprains and strains and, at the same time, alleviate their symptoms - especially pain and inflammation. You may apply ointments or creams enclosing plant extracts of arnica directly to the excruciating muscles or tender joints with a view to ease pain and lessen swelling.

It will also help to promote the healing process. Alternately, you may apply compresses drenched in a combination of either rosemary oil or sweet marjoram oil and water to the affected area, as it will have a soothing and pain relieving effect, while lessening the swelling at the affected part.

Aromatherapy

Commonly used essential oils for sprains and strains:

Homeopathy

For people enduring severe sprains, a homeopathic remedy may be taken in the potency of 6, 12 or 30th in frequent intervals according to the necessity of the condition. In effect, the medication may be taken hourly or once in two to three hours every day. It is advisable that you reduce the dosage as the condition improves.

Arnica

This homeopathic remedy is ideal for injuries and sprains or straining of any joint, back, extremities and others. Arnica is also given to people enduring muscle pull, dislocation and overexertion. In addition, this homeopathic remedy is effective for bruising, swelling and acute soreness.
The condition of the patients requiring Arnica deteriorates when they are mobile, touched by someone, there is some kind of jarring and in moist and cold conditions. They feel better when cold compress is applied to the affected area.

Bryonia

Bryonia is given to patients enduring severe sprains, and tender, hot, red distended joints. It is an effective remedy to ease stitching and/ or tearing pains. People who require this medication are very sensitive to any kind of movement and should lie in a still manner. Such person is tetchy and loathes being disturbed by anyone.

The condition of people requiring Bryonia deteriorates when they have even the smallest amount of motion, when there is jarring, when someone touches them and in the morning, while taking cold water bath as well as when they are in a hot room. They feel better when they are immobile, when heat is applied locally to the affected part, when they are given a tight or pressure bandaging and remain quiet or take rest.

Bellis

Bellis is the ideal homeopathic medication for treating tenderness and bruised and painful sensation. It is useful in cases where swelling and bruising remains after sustaining injury and the injured area becomes cold. It is effective for healing overstrain, exhaustion and muscular aching. Bellis is also beneficial for people who have suffered recurring strains or sprains and remain in the same position for long. Even people who have undergone joint surgery will find this medication effective.

The condition of patients requiring Bellis deteriorates when they are touched by someone, when the weather condition is chilly, when they are lying in bed or taking a hot bath. They feel better when there is gentle mobility and the affected area is rubbed softly.

Calc. fluor.

Calc. fluor. is given to people who are enduring persistent, recurring, simple sprain or dislocation. It is also effective for burning and grinding pain. Calc. fluor. is also given to people having adhesions, fragments in joint and nodules, in addition to feeble and stretched ligaments. It is also given to people enduring feeble and clumsy joints and have rigidity and restiveness. People requiring this homeopathic medication have a propensity to develop arthritis.

The condition of such patients deteriorates when they are mobile for the first time and are in a cold and moist environment. They feel better when warm compress is applied to the affected area, the injured area is rubbed gently and while limbering up.

Ruta

Ideally, Ruta should be used for treating pulls or strains in cases where the tendons and ligaments bind to bone and in the event of cartilage injury. This homeopathic remedy helps to ease bruised, painful discomfort. Ruta is generally used to treat sprains or pulls in the wrist, knee, neck, hip and the lower back portion. It is effective for curing nodules, deposits in joints and tendons, in addition to damaged joints and ligaments. People requiring Ruta usually endure fatigue, lameness and a heavy sensation after taking rest. They have a tendency for easy dislocation of bone and sprains.

The condition of the patients who use Ruta generally deteriorates when they are in motion, during the morning and night, when they are touched by someone, and when the weather is moist and cold. They feel better when there is warmth and when the affected area is rubbed gently.

Rhus. tox.

This homeopathic remedy is effective for treating persistent sprains of tendons and ligaments. It is beneficial for people who endure overexertion, overstretching, chilling sensation and whose condition worsens on exposure to moist or damp condition. Rhus. tox. helps to ease tearing and/ or burning pain. People requiring Rhus. tox. experience tremendous restiveness and rigidity while taking rest, and feel very weak after any physical exertion.

The condition of such patients deteriorates when they are mobile for the first time after a period of rest and when the weather condition is moist and cold. They feel better while limbering and when heat is applied to the affected part.

Additional things you may do

In addition to using conventional medications, herbs and supplements as well as homeopathic remedies, you may do a number of other things to heal sprains and strains as well as ease their symptoms. For instance, you may follow the RICE acronym - rest the wounded part, apply ice to the aching area, apply compress to the damage using an elastic support bandage, and also elevate the damaged area above the level of your heart.

It is advisable that you apply ice to the painful part for about 10 to 20 minutes every time when you do so. Continue this process at intervals of two to three hours for the first two days after sustaining the injury. In effect, instead of ice, you may also apply a bag containing frozen peas. It not only works better compared to ice, but can also be molded from one place to another on the injured part.

After the swelling has gone, you may apply a hot compress or a heating pad on the affected area with a view to enhance the blood circulation in the region.

Usual dosage

Several other medications or supplements may be taken internally or used externally to speed up the healing process of sprains and strains and some of their doses are given below.

Vitamin A: You may take vitamin A in dosage of 25,000 IU two times every day for five consecutive days. However, the daily dosage for pregnant women or women planning to become pregnant should not be over 5,000 IU.

Manganese: This is a vital mineral supplement necessary to heal sprains and strains and ought to be taken in dosage of 100 mg every day for seven consecutive days. Manganese facilitates in healing tendons, ligaments and cartilage.

Glucosamine: Glucosamine sulfate should be taken in the dosage of 500 mg thrice every day. People taking this supplement should always take it along with food. In addition, it is not advisable for people suffering from diabetes to take glucosamine sulfate.

Vitamin C / Flavonoids: Vitamin C and flavonoids are basically antioxidants and they may be taken in different dosages. You may take 1,000 mg of vitamin C and 500 mg of flavonoids thrice daily. In case you develop diarrhea, it is advisable to reduce the dosage of vitamin C.

Bromelain: This is an enzyme extracted from the pineapple plant and should be taken in dosage of 500 mg thrice daily essentially on an empty stomach. This ought to supply about 6,000 GDU or 9,000 MCU every day.

Sweet marjoram oil: Add a few drops of sweet marjoram oil to a basin of cold water and drench a towel in this mixture. Next, wring out the liquid and apply the towel externally to the affected area.

Arnica ointment: The ointment prepare from the extract of arnica should be applied topically to the aching part at least four times daily. However, care should be taken so that you don't apply this ointment on the broken skin areas. In addition, arnica ointment should never be taken orally.

Rosemary oil: Similar to using sweet marjoram oil, add a few drops of rosemary oil to a basin of cold water, soak a towel in the liquid and wring it out. Subsequently, apply the towel on the part that has been sprained or strained.

Other beneficial herbs

Comments

From Sandra - Jan-07-2012
I fell three days ago and badly sprained my ankle. The pain was excruciating and I couldn't bear any weight at all. The next day when I could bear to touch it, I wrapped my ankle and top of foot up in pressed fresh comfrey leaves (which I'd mixed with a bit of water) into a poultice. I tied it there with a bandage and left it for three hours. I repeated the procedure in the afternoon. I took lots of vitamin C (a healer and mild pain reliever) and today I'm 90% better.
From Luke - 2010
A powerful supplement that was not mentioned is Cissus. It is said to be up to 10 times more powerful than glucosamine at healing ligaments and tendons. The best brand name formula is sold under SuperCissus Rx online and in some stores.
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