First Aid: Strains and Sprains
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Strains are injuries to muscle or tendons (which connect muscle to bone) due to overstretching. Sprains involve a stretch or a partial tear of ligaments (which connect two bones). Sprains and strains happen more often in teens than in younger children.
Signs and Symptoms
- pain in the joint or muscle
- swelling and bruising
- warmth and redness of the injured area
- trouble moving the injured part
What to Do
- Make sure your child stops activity right away.
- Think R.I.C.E. for the first 48 hours after the injury:
- Rest: Rest the injured part until it’s less painful.
- Ice: Wrap an icepack or cold compress in a towel and place over the injured part immediately. Continue for no more than 20 minutes at a time, four to eight times a day.
- Compression: Support the injured part with an elastic compression bandage for at least 2 days.
- Elevation: Raise the injured part above heart level to decrease swelling.
- Give your child ibuprofen or acetaminophen for pain and swelling.
Get Emergency Medical Care if Your Child Has:
- severe pain when the injured part is touched or moved
- continued trouble bearing weight
- more bruising
- numbness or a feeling of “pins and needles” in the injured area
- a limb that looks “bent” or misshapen
- signs of infection (increased warmth, redness, streaks, swelling, and pain)
- a strain or sprain that doesn’t seem to be improving after 5 to 7 days
Think Prevention!
Teach kids to warm up properly and to stretch before and after exercising or participating in any sport, and make sure they always wear appropriate protective equipment.