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What is strain?
A strain is caused by an injury to a muscle or tendon from overuse, causing chronic strains, or from a twist to that area causing an acute strain. Common chronic strains are back injuries and tennis elbow. An acute strain is often caused by twisting or a blow to that area, such as a hamstring strain. Most minor strains heal within two weeks, but moderate to severe strains may take some months to heal the damage to ruptured muscle fibres.
What is sprain?
A sprain is an injury to a ligament, commonly from overstretching the ankles or wrists after a fall. Sprains may be mild with a little pain on movement of the area and no long term effects. Moderate to severe sprains result in tears to the ligament with bruising, swelling and difficulty putting weight or pressure on that area because of the pain. The pain from a severe sprain may be similar to that of broken bones, so for these injuries an X-ray should always be taken to prevent untreated fractures.
RICE – Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation.
- Rest – try to reduce any weight or exercise to that area, especially for the first 48 hours.
- Ice – use an icepack, or unopened packed of frozen vegetables, wrapped in a dry cloth, for up to 20 minutes every two or three hours while pain and swelling is present.
- Compression – use elastic bandages or joint supports to support the injured area and wear them whenever the area is painful.
- Elevation – raising the injured area above the level of the heart for the first 24 to 48 hours will help to decrease swelling to the area.
All moderate to severe injuries should be checked by a doctor, physiotherapist or emergency clinic. If it is too painful to put any weight or pressure on an injured area, or there is pronounced swelling, bleeding or bruising, then prompt medical treatment is a priority.
We are available for support
Your community pharmacy has many different types of supports and elastic wraps to support injuries to different areas. If you are using a supporting wrap it is important to get advice regarding the correct size for your body and injury.
Pharmacists can help you treat and prevent sprains and strains. They can provide good advice about the best compression product to ease injuries, as well as the right pain relieving treatments to ensure that you can recover from your injury and rehabilitate the injured area to prevent further sprains and strains in the future.
If you have an injury, such as a sprain or strain, consult your community pharmacist as they will refer you for further medical help if needed, or provide you with what you need to help you recover.
Contact our pharmacyFIRST AID PRODUCTS
Needle And Biowaste Disposal Container 1.4 Litre
Life Pharmacy Orewa
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$19.99 Earn 20 points Living Reward Points
Life Pharmacy Orewa
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$29.99 Earn 30 points Living Reward Points
Kinetik Wellbeing Blood Pressure Monitor - Fully Automatic
Life Pharmacy Orewa
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Life Pharmacy Orewa
Crystaderm provides strong protection against skin infection without a prescription, essential for your family’s first aid in the home and on-the-go. Uses: Acne Burns School Sores Cu...
$16.99 Earn 17 points Living Reward Points
Life Pharmacy Orewa
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Cuticerin Dressing 7.5Cm X 7.5Cm 50
Life Pharmacy Orewa
A soothing, synthetic mesh dressing suitable for minor burns.Use for minor burns and scalds
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Dermasoft Sorbolene Cream 375G
Life Pharmacy Orewa
A very effective moisturiser and emollient for dry, cracked or scaly skin, containing 10% Glycerin, which is known for it’s moisture retaining qualities, and is often recommended by specialists for...
$16.99 Earn 17 points Living Reward Points
Bepanthen Tattoo Aftercare Ointment 50G
Life Pharmacy Orewa
Bepanthen Tattoo Aftercare Ointment 50G Ensure your tattoo heals beautifully with Bepanthen Tattoo Aftercare Ointment. This 50G tube is specially formulated to protect and nourish your skin, promot...
$14.99 Earn 15 points Living Reward Points
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