How To Handle Severe Ligament Strains And Sports Injuries

Written By Brooke Chaplan / Reviewed By Ray Spotts

Playing a sport is one of the best things that you can do for your body, yet there isn’t a single sport that doesn’t come without some type of risk. Sprained ankles, groin pulls and hamstring strains are just a few of the most common injuries that you might experience on the field.

While no one likes to be sidelined, it is critical to take care of severe ligament strains right away. These strategies help you to treat the injury to reduce long-lasting damage, and they’ll get you back in the game faster.

Apply Ice to Reduce Inflammation on ligament strains

The majority of ligament strains respond well to ice that is applied within the first 24 hours. Ideally, cold packs should be a part of your sports first aid kit, but you can also use a wet washcloth as a cold compress in a pinch until you can get to some ice.

Cool temperatures help to reduce inflammation and swelling that can further increase the symptoms of your injury.

Schedule an Examination for ligament strains

Ligament strains are usually marked by severe pain, swelling and bruising around the affected part of your body. You may also have felt a pulling sensation at the time of the injury.

These symptoms are all signs that you need an exam since it is hard to tell from the surface if it is just a strain or a more severe type of injury. A sports medicine doctor can conduct a full exam that may include medical imaging. This helps you get the right treatment plan from the beginning.

Use the Right Balance of Rest and Movement for ligament strains

Depending upon your treatment plan, you might be told to rest the affected limb for a specific amount of time. However, you might also be told to keep that part of your body moving at regular intervals.

This helps to promote blood flow and keep the ligament from freezing up. Remember to follow the doctor’s recommendations since they know how to help you achieve this delicate balance.

Complete All Follow-Up Treatments for ligament strains

A severe ligament strain takes time to fully heal. During this time, you may need to do special exercises at home or attend therapy sessions.

Make sure to complete all of these treatments so that your injury heals properly.

Even a minor ligament strain can turn into a big problem if you let it go unaddressed. There is no shame in treating an injury.

In fact, caring for your body is what makes you a better athlete. With the right amount of professional treatment and self-care, you can expect a strong recovery that supports you being able to return to your favorite sport.

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Written By:

Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most of her time hiking, biking, and gardening. For more information, contact Brooke via Facebook at facebook.com/brooke.chaplan or Twitter @BrookeChaplan  

Reviewed By:

Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.

Photo by Toralf Thomassen on Unsplash