A sprain is an acute medical injury to a ligament. The immediate standard of medical care in this situation can best be described by the acronym R.I.C.E.: Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. A sprain or muscle injury should be rested in order to decrease the amount of inflammation. Ice, wrapped in a wet towel, should be placed on the area of injury until that area has become numbed. This can be repeated every half hour up to 2 hours. Afterwards, an hour of cessation should be observed before beginning again.



Ice is also used to decrease the amount of inflammation. Compression can be accomplished with a tube sock or an ace bandage. The compression is used to decrease the amount of vascular leakage in the area of the muscle injury. This helps to decrease the amount of fluid in the tissues known as swelling. Elevation is also used to decrease vascular pressure in the area of injury which reduces the amount of muscle swelling. Anti-inflammatory medication and painkillers can be advantageous in the treatment of injured area, but MUST be used according to physicians instructions and ONLY as necessary. Medication is only utilized during the initial phase of a muscle sprain and should be discontinued as quickly as feasible.

A muscle injury is often viewed as a minor medical event. It is only minor in the sense of not needing invasive medical procedures. It is important to get enough rest to allow the muscle to heal as completely as possible. However, it is also important to become active as soon as possible. Recent research has emphasized the importance of moderate exercise in returning to normal functioning as soon as possible. It should be taken seriously enough to follow these directions or there is a possibility for a further and much more serious injury to occur.