Home Remedies for Strains and Sprains

New York City has millions of citizens and there are many injuries affecting the city's population. Sprains and strains in New York are quite common and there are many foot specialists to help remedy them.

A sprain is an injury where you have difficulty moving the joint connected to the ligament. A strain involves cramping around the injured area.

However, you do not have to run to a specialist every time you sprain or strain your foot. The following are some things you can do at home to remedy a sprain or a strain:

1. R.I.C.E

RICE stands for rest, ice, compress and elevate. It is one of the oldest remedies for a sports injury, including sprains and strains. It has been around for so long because it works.

If you sprain or strain a joint in your foot, you should rest it as much as possible. In rest, the body's natural healing capabilities will address the pain. it will also avoid further damage to the injury.

Applying ice to the injury makes it cold, which helps with reducing the pain and swelling of the injury. A compression bandage around the injured area should also reduce the swelling.

You should elevate the injured area above the level of the heart. That way, you reduce the flow of blood and other fluids to the area.

1. Epsom Salt

Another way to address a sprain or strain at home is to soak your feet in water containing Epsom salt. The water should preferably be warm for it to have the most effect.

Epsom salt helps alleviate a sprain or strain in a couple of ways. It will help soothe sore muscles and the connective tissues. It will also reduce the stiffness in the joints.

You should soak your feet in Epsom salt solution once or twice a day. An alte ative is to dissolve the salt in a warm bath.

1. Pain Medication

If the pain from the sprain or strain is too much, which it often is, you should take some pain medication. Pain relief is one of the first steps to start remedying the injury.

You can get strong pain medication over the counter at your local pharmacy. Such medicines include Ibuprofen, Aspirin and Tylenol.

However, you should not learn to depend on pain medication for pain alleviation. Many of the pain medicines are opiates that can be very addictive if taken for too long.

1. Stretch the Joint

If you take pain medication, then you will increase your ability to stretch the area with the strain or sprain. Stretching will help restore your joint's range of motion, flexibility, and strength.

Stretching might be too painful in the early days of the injury, and may worsen the injury. Therefore, you should only start stretching your joint after several days of rest.

The key is to progressively increase the stretches, depending on how comfortable they feel. Soon, you will be able to stretch it completely and regain full mobility in your joint.

It is important that you consult a doctor or a physical therapist before you start stretching a sprained joint.