Things parents should know about sprains, wounds<\/p>\n
By Donya Betancourt<\/p>\n
SANUR, Bali (JP): As more and more kids and teens take part in
\nsport activities, there is a chance that your child might get an
\ninjury even if she or he is careful.<\/p>\n
The most common injury experienced by kids and teens when
\nperforming sports is sprain.<\/p>\n
What is a sprain?<\/p>\n
A sprain is a stretched or torn ligament. Ligaments connect
\none bone to another at a joint and help keep the bones from
\nmoving out of place.<\/p>\n
The most common site for sprains to occur is the ankle. Since
\nthe ankle is made up of many small bones and ligaments, a sprain
\ncan happen with an accidental twist, or even by taking an awkward
\nstep while walking.<\/p>\n
The signs of sprain are swelling, pain, bruising and
\nlimitation of movement or stiffness.<\/p>\n
How do I take care of a sprained ankle?<\/p>\n
The rule of thumb is the "RICE" approach, which is Rest, Ice,
\nCompression and Elevation.<\/p>\n
Rest means you need to rest your ankle completely or partially
\ndepending on how severe it is. You should use crutches as long as
\nyou still feel pain when standing on your foot. A healing cast
\nmay be considered in cases of ligament injury or to speed the
\nhealing process by preventing the bone and the injured ligament
\nfrom moving.<\/p>\n
Ice packs will decrease swelling, pain and bruising and muscle
\ntrauma. You may use ice for the first three days after injury.
\nUse the ice for up to 20 minutes at a time. When your skin feels
\nnumb, it is time to remove the ice. Use ice treatment every two
\nto four hours for the first three days. By then, the
\nswelling will be under control.<\/p>\n
Compression is accomplished by wrapping the ankle in an ice
\nbandage to avoid swelling and bruising. Wrapping the ankle will
\nbe required for a period of two days to two weeks or more,
\ndepending on the severity.<\/p>\n
Elevation is raising the injury above the level of the heart
\nand it will help prevent the swelling from getting worse while at
\nthe same time reducing bruising. Try to keep your ankle elevated
\nfor about two to three hours a day if possible.<\/p>\n
You can start using the sprained ankle again depending on how
\nserious the sprain is. The average downtime is between one and
\nthree days after injury.<\/p>\n
Medicine such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen is used to control
\nthe pain. If you are an athlete, it will probably take several
\nweeks before you can start training again. Moreover, you may
\nstill need to keep your ankle wrapped for support and protection.
\nAt this point, athletes are often rushed into returning to their
\nsport before they are allowed to fully recover. In this case, my
\nadvice is to think about the long-term effects of your decision
\nto play while still injured. Weak ankles and knees will last for
\na lifetime after the big game and it can be prevented with proper
\ntreatment. So, don't hurry back to the playing field if rest is
\nwhat your body needs.<\/p>\n
Wound<\/p>\n
The other common sports-related injury are wounds.<\/p>\n
How should I clean a wound?<\/p>\n
The best way to clean a cut, scrape or puncture is by running
\nwater, or pouring a cup of water, over the wound. Use soap and a
\nsoft cloth to clean the wound and skin around the wound, in order
\nto get rid of dirt. It may require tweezers to help remove all
\nthe dirt.<\/p>\n
Using a strong cleansing solution (such as hydrogen peroxide
\nor an antiseptic) may irritate wounds. But if the wound is really
\ndirty you may have to use it. Leaving a wound uncovered helps it
\nstay dry and helps it heal.<\/p>\n
If the wound isn't in an area that will get dirty or be rubbed
\nby clothing, you don't have to cover it. If it is in an area that
\nwill get dirty (such as your hand), or be irritated by clothing
\n(such as your knee), cover it with an adhesive strip or with
\nsterile gauze and adhesive tape.<\/p>\n
Change the bandage each day to keep the wound clean and dry.
\nCertain wounds, such as scrapes that cover a large area of the
\nbody, should be kept moist and clean in order to reduce scarring
\nand speed healing.<\/p>\n
In Asian countries where it is humid and there is a lot of
\ndust, your wound should be covered unless you stay in the house.<\/p>\n
Antibiotic ointments (such as bacitracin) help healing by
\npreventing infection while keeping the wound clean and moist.
\nMost minor cuts and scrapes will heal just fine without
\nantibiotic ointment, but it can speed healing and help reduce
\nscarring.<\/p>\n
When you have a wound, you will develop scabs on the abrasion.
\nScabs are the body's way of bandaging itself. They form to
\nprotect wounds from dirt. It's best to leave them alone and not
\npick at them. They will fall off by themselves when the time is
\nright.<\/p>\n
Do you need a tetanus shot?<\/p>\n
Tetanus is a serious infection that you can get after a wound.
\nThe infection is also called "lockjaw", because jaw stiffness is
\nthe most frequent symptom.<\/p>\n
When the wound is clean and minor, you will need a tetanus
\nshot if you haven't had at least three doses before, or haven't
\nhad a dose in the last 10 years.<\/p>\n
When the wound is more serious, you'll need a tetanus shot if
\nyou haven't had at least three doses before or if you haven't had
\na shot in the last five years.<\/p>\n
The writer is a pediatrician based in Sanur, Bali. Questions?
\nContact her at drdonya@hotmail.com and
\nfeatures@thejakartapost.com<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/things-parents-should-know-about-sprains-wounds-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}