[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/03\/physical-therapy-for-sprains-and-strains\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/03\/physical-therapy-for-sprains-and-strains\/","headline":"Physical Therapy for Sprains and Strains","name":"Physical Therapy for Sprains and Strains","description":"Sprains and strains are common injuries that may require medical attention. Learn more about the physical therapy process for your sprain or strain.","datePublished":"2014-03-10","dateModified":"2022-11-11","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/rehab","name":"UPMC Rehabilitation Institute","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/rehab","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/upmc-rehabilitation-institute\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/physical-therapy-for-sprains-and-strains.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/physical-therapy-for-sprains-and-strains.jpg","height":325,"width":754},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/03\/physical-therapy-for-sprains-and-strains\/","about":["Fitness","Rehabilitation","Sports Medicine"],"wordCount":433,"keywords":["injury","pain","physical therapy","RICE","sprain","strain","Trevor Delaney DPT"],"articleBody":"Sprains and strains are common injuries with many different causes, such as falls, twists, or general overuse. A sprain is a stretch or tear of a ligament, whereas a strain is an injury to a muscle or tendon.Both can be painful injuries that may cause swelling and require medical attention, according to Brian Hmel, PT, facility director, UPMC outpatient rehabilitation clinic, St. Francis DiSepio Institute.The RICE PrincipleIf you think you have a sprain or strain, Hmel suggests following the RICE principle.RICE stands for:Rest. Minimize use of the area.Ice. Apply for periods of 10 to 15 minutes every 3 hours.Compression. Use a compression bandage, but be careful not to make it too tight.Elevation. The affected area should be higher than the level of your heart to reduce swelling.\u201cDuring the first 48 hours, the RICE principle is helpful for any acute injury,\u201d Hmel says. \u201cIt is important to minimize use of the affected area initially, avoid activities that cause increased pain in the area, and reduce inflammation and irritation with ice and elevation.\u201dPhysical Therapy for Sprains and Strains\u201cTherapies for a strain or sprain will be similar in some aspects and different in others, but both will focus on decreasing symptoms and restoring function,\u201d Hmel says.Physical therapy for a sprain will vary depending on the degree of the sprain. Treatment to minimize swelling and pain and promote function may include:Therapeutic exercises to strengthen and stretch the muscles surrounding the affected joint.Joint mobilization techniques performed by a physical therapist\u00a0to the affected joint.Heat, ice, and\/or electrical stimulation.Physical therapy for a strain will also vary depending on the degree of the strain. Treatment can include:Therapeutic exercises to stretch and strengthen both the involved and surrounding muscles.Soft tissue mobilization to break up fibrous tissue and scar tissue.Heat and\/or ice as needed to control swelling and pain.\u201cFor strains, the goal is allowing the injured muscle to heal while preventing a significant loss of function,\u201d Hmel says. \u201cOnce the injured muscle can resume strength exercises, we work to restore that strength and function.\u201dHmel notes that for both sprains and strains, treatment will also include educating the patient about the injury and ways to prevent injury in the future.It\u2019s important to remember that the length of therapy varies by patient. Your health care provider will determine a timeframe based on the severity of your injury.To learn more, call 1-888-723-4277 or visit our website.Editor's Note: This podcast was originally published on March 10, 2014, and was last reviewed on September 27, 2022."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2014","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"03","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/\/03\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Physical Therapy for Sprains and Strains","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/03\/physical-therapy-for-sprains-and-strains\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]