For decades, the conventional wisdom for treating new strains and sprains due to injury was to administer Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation (RICE). In researching this column, I discovered that ... Sprains and strains are frequent injuries, affecting millions of people each year.

Understanding the Context

Symptoms may vary, with some people having persistent pain, while others may have sudden pain and inflammation due to an injury. The most common types of sprains are ankle sprains, knee sprains, and wrist sprains. While the intensity varies, pain, bruising, swelling, and inflammation are common to all three categories of sprains. Treatment for sprains begins with the RICE protocol and physical therapy.

Key Insights

A sprain is a stretch or tear of a ligament while a strain is an injury to a muscle or tendon. Learn how to lower your risks of sprains and strains. Petoskey News-Review: Samyn: Injured? Try a little PEACE and LOVE instead of RICE It’s all fun and games until someone injures their ankle. Playing sports or going to the gym are great ways to stay physically fit, but these activities can lead to ankle injuries.

Final Thoughts

Ankle sprains or ... Sprains happen when ligaments around one of your joints are damaged. Visit a healthcare provider if you notice pain, swelling or it’s hard to use or put weight on a joint — especially if you’ve experienced a fall, injury or accident. Initial treatment includes rest, ice, compression and elevation. Mild sprains can be successfully treated at home. Severe sprains sometimes require surgery to repair torn ligaments.