Premergency First Aid, CPR and AED Manual

8 Muscle, Bone and Joint Injuries

Sprains When a joint is stretched or twisted beyond normal, a sprain can occur. Supporting ligaments and the capsule are stretched and torn. A sprained joint will usually be in its normal position but sometimes minor displacement will be visible. While the ankle and knee are the most commonly affected, any joint can be sprained. Sprains should be treated as partial dislocations. Signs and Symptoms Sprained joint • Tenderness over the ligament when touched • Swelling and bruising • Pain, preventing normal use

A fracture can look like a sprain and vice versa. It may not be possible to know the difference outside of a hospital. Assess the MOI thoroughly. Strains A strain, or pulled muscle, is an injury to a muscle and/or tendon. It occurs when the muscle contracts violently or from too much stretching. Usually only minor swelling occurs over the injury site. Pain my be worse with movement.

Strained Muscle

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