Should you apply hot oil if you have a sprain?

A sprain is a condition in which the ligaments are overstretched or torn, causing pain, reduced or loss of joint mobility, often occurring after sports injuries, daily life accidents, or prolonged repetitive work. The most common location of sprain is the ankle joint, causing pain, swelling, and bruising.

MSc Tran Van Dan, Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Tam Anh General Hospital, Hanoi, said you should not apply hot oil or hot compresses when there are signs of a sprain. Hot oil dilates blood vessels in the damaged area, causing more blood to flow into soft tissue, making swelling and bruising worse, and even increasing the risk of bleeding inside joints and around ligaments.

Increased temperature irritates the ligaments, making the damage last longer, making it harder to heal and taking longer to recover. After rubbing hot oil or applying hot compresses, many people feel more comfortable, mistakenly thinking the pain has decreased, so they return to movement early, which can aggravate the sprain damage.

Master Dan said that in the first 72 hours after a sprain injury, patients should follow the international standard regimen, abbreviated as PRICE.

P- Protection: The activity that caused the injury should be stopped immediately to protect the ligament.

R – Rest (Rest): Limit movement and do not arbitrarily move the sprained area without adequate first aid. Do not arbitrarily massage or apply pressure to the painful area.

I – Ice (Cold compress): Use an ice pack or cold towel to apply to the sprained area for 15-20 minutes, 4-8 times a day, to help constrict blood vessels, reduce swelling and pain. Avoid letting ice come into direct contact with the skin and avoid placing the ice pack in one position for too long to avoid causing frostbite.

C – Compression: Use a moderate bandage to immobilize the joint, support the damaged joint, and do not bandage too tight to block circulation, nor too loose.

E – Elevation: If it is a lower limb, elevate the leg; If it is the upper limb, elevate your arms (use a pillow or pillow) when sitting or lying down. Using a triangle bandage or towel, drape the injured arm over your chest, keeping it in a functional position (i.e. the most comfortable position) and tie it gently in front of your chest, helping to reduce swelling and improve circulation.

In most cases, grade 1 mild sprains, mild ligament stretching, little pain and swelling, can be recovered after applying the PRICE principle. If the patient has a more severe sprain, grade two with some torn ligaments, marked pain, moderate swelling, or grade three when the ligament is completely torn, causing severe pain, severe swelling, widespread bruising, and joint instability, you need to go to a specialized hospital for examination and specialized sprain treatment.

Based on clinical examination, the doctor prescribes a joint ultrasound or MRI to diagnose a sprain. Depending on the condition, the doctor prescribes conservative treatment or ligament reconstruction surgery and comprehensive rehabilitation to help the patient recover early and most effectively.

To prevent sprains, sports players should warm up carefully. When playing outdoor sports such as jogging, soccer, basketball, they should pay attention to the weather and terrain, should not overplay or exercise, and listen to their body to rest appropriately. When working and living, you need to pay attention to prevent the risk of slipping and falling, and neatly clean obstacles in the home and workplace. Exercise regularly to keep your bones and joints healthy, maintain a reasonable weight, and avoid being overweight or obese.