Caring for a soft tissue injury (sprain)

Soft tissue injuries occur when the body's muscles, tendons or ligaments experience trauma. We commonly refer to this as a ‘sprain’. If your child has been declared fit for discharge after being assessed and observed for a sprain, here are some things to help their recovery.

Care at home

Pain relief

Over-the-counter paracetamol (Panadol) or ibuprofen (Nurofen/Advil) can help your child move around and remain comfortable. Your doctor or nurse will discuss which pain-relieving medications are best and when to use them.

Rest

To help reduce inflammation and limit further damage, your child should stay off the injured area as much as possible for the first 24-48 hours after a sprain. Help your child get into a comfortable position that doesn’t put any strain on the affected area.

Ice

Apply an ice pack to the sprain for 20 minutes every 2 hours while your child is awake. Continue this for the first 48 hours after the sprain occurred. Remember to cover the ice pack with a wet towel, pillowcase or cloth. Don’t apply it directly to the skin.

Compression

If your child has a compression bandage over their injury to reduce inflammation and swelling, be sure to check the bandage isn’t too tight:

• Check for colour – if their limbs, including fingers or toes, appear white or blue compared to the other limb, take off the bandage.
• Check the temperature of the fingers or toes – they should be as warm as the uninjured hand or foot.

Elevation

Raise the injured area to the level of the heart or above. Resting it on a pillow can reduce bleeding, swelling and pain because gravity helps to drain the excess fluid away.

When to seek help

If your child’s pain or discomfort continues or gets worse, visit your doctor.

In an emergency, call Triple Zero (000) and ask for an ambulance.

If you're not sure whether to go to an emergency department, call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) and speak to a registered nurse.