Osteopath Explains: What Is a Sprain? - Health - Wellness

f you are an athlete who plays volleyball, basketball, football, soccer, a gymnast, a swimmer, a cyclist, or anyone with an active lifestyle, chances are you already have had your fair share of sprains. Sprains are injuries to one or more of your ligaments.

Ligaments are the thick, fibrous, and tough tissues that connect your bones together. These ligaments align your bones together preventing you to move abnormally. However, if too much force is applied to your ligaments, these can be injured, torn apart, and stretched apart causing the sprains. Ligaments can acquire injuries by stretching too much from their normal positions causing misalignments and pain. Parts of the body that commonly have sprains are your wrists, ankles, and knees.

Sprains are classified according to the severity of the effect of the injury. Grade 1 sprain is characterized by stretched fibers of your ligaments. On the other hand, grade 2 sprains indicate that a part of your ligament is torn but your ligaments and your tissues are still in tact. Lastly, the most severe of the three classifications, grade 3 sprains exemplify completely torn or ruptured ligaments. Sprains are usually characterized by pains, varying from the grade of the sprain and the swelling of the affected area.

Sprains are caused by physical stress. In these circumstances, the muscles and the ligaments of the body are put into a situation where in they have moved a part of their body which were not prepared or created to do so. Usually, sprains happen in your ankles, knees, and wrists but they can also happen to your neck. Neck injuries and sprains after accidents such as a car accident or a sports injury frequently occur as well. Aside from that, your fingers and thumbs can also have sprains, a condition which is referred to as Skier's or gamekeeper's thumb.

Varying from the extent of the injury, sprains can completely heal in weeks or months. Although people who have sprains are not able to move normally, they should slowly move the affected areas in order to assist the body part to respond to activity, which is part of the healing process. Nonetheless, it is also advisable for people who have sprains to consult a skillful osteopath for further assistance on the healing process.

An excellent osteopath may be of great help by providing you with treatments and exercises that will help you recover from the sprain faster.

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