First Aid: Strains and Sprains

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.