There are many types of lower extremity injuries. Foot sprain is one of them. It is accompanied by swelling, the appearance of a hematoma, a weakening of motor function, and severe pain. The victim needs first aid and transportation to the emergency room. Only a doctor is able to make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe appropriate therapeutic measures. The treatment and prevention of this phenomenon is described in the article.
Reasons
The foot is attached to the tibia with the help of the calcaneus, navicular, talus, and metatarsal bones. They are connected by a large number of ligaments: spring, long and short plantar, calcaneonavicular, calcaneocuboid. Thanks to the muscular framework, bones and ligaments are protected from damage.
Sprains of the ligaments of the foot often appear in athletes who often jump and run - among basketball players, volleyball players, and athletes. Such damage occurs in weightlifters while lifting heavy kettlebells and barbells.
Another foot sprain appears from:
- overweight;
- doing a certain sport;
- difficult physical labor;
- walking highhigh heels or uncomfortable shoes;
- walking on uneven surfaces;
- pathological arch of the foot;
- congenital lack of ligament strength;
- foot injury or inflammation of the ligaments.
If there is any cause, the leg must be treated. This will eliminate discomfort and unpleasant consequences.
Injury recognition
What are the symptoms of a foot sprain? They are different, depending on the degree of the disease:
- Easy. It is evidenced by a slight swelling, edema, hematoma, some soreness, lameness.
- Average. Symptoms include severe pain, moderate swelling and bruising, limited movement.
- Heavy. With it, there is severe pain, swelling, bruising. There is also a loss of leg function. There may be a rupture of the ligaments of the foot or a dislocation. Symptoms include dizziness, nausea, fever.
Treatment may vary depending on the degree of foot sprain. In any case, it is better to consult a doctor to prevent complications.
First Aid
Stretching of the connective tissue of the foot causes damage to small vessels and nerves. And this leads to pain and subcutaneous hemorrhage. First aid for sprained ligaments of the foot should be provided quickly. This is done as follows:
- Must put the person down.
- It is important that the foot has absolute rest.
- It is necessary to put a roller under the ankle so thatso that the injured leg is slightly elevated.
- Required to apply a cold compress to the bruise. The procedure lasts 20 minutes. Ice is wrapped in a material or bandage and applied to the damaged area, avoiding contact with the skin.
- The foot must be fixed with a pressure bandage, wrapping it from the middle of the lower leg to the toes. The dressing should not be pulled tight.
- In case of severe sprain and the likelihood of dislocation, it is necessary to fix the joint with planks so that they protrude beyond the area of injury.
- The patient needs to be given pain medication.
- After providing first aid, the victim can be taken to the emergency room.
First aid helps to prevent deterioration of the victim's condition. In addition, it relieves him of severe pain.
ICD code 10
Sprained foot according to ICD 10 - S93, classified as follows:
- 0 - dislocation of the ankle, talus, fibula, subtalar joint.
- 1 - damage to the finger, interphalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints.
- 2 - torn ligaments in the foot and ankle.
- 3 - dislocation of the unfinished area of the foot, navicular bone, tarsus, tarsus-metatarsus.
- 4- ankle sprain, calcaneofibular ligament.
- 5 - stretching of the capsular-ligamentous apparatus.
- 6 - stretching of the capsular-ligamentous apparatus and other joints.
Classification of diseases is used in the medical field. With suchailment is also taken into account by the ICD. Foot sprain, like any other ailment, requires diagnostic measures to determine the direction of treatment.
Diagnosis
A person should be examined by an orthopedist or traumatologist. The doctor should be told about the complaints. In this case, the doctor must feel the leg, assess the impairment of mobility, and determine the cause.
To clarify the diagnosis, an x-ray is required, showing the presence or absence of a fracture, dislocation, partial or complete rupture of ligaments, soft tissue damage. A CT or MRI will allow you to get a detailed clinical picture.
Drugs
What to do with foot sprain? A serious approach to treatment is required, since due to incomplete rehabilitation, there is a deterioration in the capacity of the limb in the future. Medicines should be taken only with the permission of a doctor, as medicines have contraindications.
If the pain is severe, you need pain medication, for example, Analgin, Ibuprofen, Paracetamol. To relieve the symptoms of stretching, liniments and gels help. Doctors often recommend using medications such as:
- "Hydrocortisone".
- "Prednisolone".
- Voltaren.
- Diclofenac.
- Indomethacin.
- "Heparin ointment";
- "Fastum gel""
- Aescin.
Before using any drug, you should read the instructions. It is important to respect the dose and duration of treatment.
Surgical method
Treatmentfoot sprains can be performed with surgery. It is carried out with a complete rupture of the ligaments, aggravated by dislocation, fracture, compression of nerve fibers, which often causes leg numbness.
The doctor stitches the torn connective tissue or nerves, if necessary, the bones are put in place, the skin is sutured, the suture is bandaged and a fixative is applied. If an open fracture is found during sprain, then the wound is drained and cleaned by a specialist.
Physiotherapy
Treatment of foot sprains at home is performed with the help of physiotherapy procedures. These include:
- electrophoresis;
- inductothermy;
- magnetic therapy;
- laser therapy;
- warming up with paraffin or ozocerite applications;
- baths with hydrogen sulfide or radon;
- UHF therapy;
- massage.
Before performing each procedure, you should consult with a specialist. The benefits of physical therapy are as follows:
- restoration of foot mobility;
- removal of tumor, inflammation, pain;
- resorption of hematomas;
- improvement of metabolism in injured areas;
- oxygen saturation;
- stimulate synovial fluid production;
- normalization of blood circulation.
Therapeutic exercise
Treatment of sprains can be done using the followingexercise:
- you need to move your foot up and down, as well as to the sides;
- useful to squeeze and unclench fingers;
- ball rolling;
- helps foot massager with balls;
- collecting small parts with the toes of the foot;
- performing circular rotations of the feet;
- lifting on tiptoe.
Regular exercise therapy not only eliminates the problem, but also improves overall well-being. You just need to do the exercises without haste. If any procedures cause pain, do not perform them.
Other treatments
For the treatment of sprains, heating with bags of warm sand or s alt, as well as with a lamp, helps. Warm baths with sea s alt or decoctions based on chamomile, oak bark, wormwood, comfrey, cinquefoil have a beneficial effect.
It is important to adjust the diet by introducing products with gelatin, rich in calcium, sulfur, silicon, manganese, selenium, into the menu. Supplements based on chondroitin, glucosamine, collagen are effective.
Traditional medicine
Traditional medicine is quite effective in the treatment of many ailments and injuries. A plus is their availability and the possibility of self-preparation. Various effective prescriptions can be used in the treatment.
Vodka compress is often used, with which it will be possible to eliminate puffiness in a few days. Such a remedy is easy to prepare, you just need to moisten the bandage in vodka, apply to the affected area and tape it.
In addition to vodka compresses, milk compresses help, which are applied in the same way, only the material is wetted in warm milk. Effective onion lotion, which is prepared from chopped onion and s alt, and then applied to the affected area.
Complications
Usually, stretching does not cause serious consequences. But if, with a complete rupture, the diagnosis was not made in a timely manner or the treatment was carried out incorrectly, then there is a risk of developing a dislocation of the foot. With it, there will be instability in the joint and its frequent tucking. This appears due to the inability of damaged tissues to hold the joint.
In mild cases, treatment is the same as for a normal injury, but with an extended recovery time. In severe forms, a surgical method is used using synthetic materials. Orthopedic shoes are also prescribed.
Recovery
It will take several months until the ligaments and tissues are completely healed, after which a person can step on the injured leg. About 60 days is the entire course of recovery after an injury. During this period, a person must follow the recommendations of a traumatologist, perform therapeutic exercises to strengthen the ligaments of the foot, and also avoid heavy load on the injured leg.
During the recovery period, it is necessary to carry out massage, perform water procedures, mud baths. Effective for developing swimming ligaments, so you can visit the pool.
Prevention
To prevent the appearance of stretch marks, it is advisable to wearcomfortable shoes with low wide heels. Women should not wear stiletto heels, tight pumps and flip-flops, as such shoes place an incorrect load on the muscles and ligaments of the legs, blood circulation is disturbed, and there is a risk of dislocation.
Athletes need to strengthen their ankle muscles with specific exercises. Walking barefoot on a sports log helps. To strengthen the joints, it is necessary to start treating injuries and bone diseases in a timely manner.
Thus, a foot sprain is an unpleasant phenomenon. It is important to provide first aid to the victim and take him to the hospital. And effective preventive measures will prevent the occurrence of such an injury.
