HOME CARE Section 5 of 13 Initial treatment for sprains and strains should occur as soon as possible. R est the injured part. Pain is the body s signal to not move an injury. I ce the injury. This will limit the swelling and help with the spasm.
C ompress the injured area.
This again, limits the swelling. Be careful not to apply a wrap so tightly that it might act as a tourniquet and cut off the blood supply. E levate the injured part. This lets gravity help reduce the swelling by allowing fluid and blood to drain downhill to the heart. Remember to follow the guidelines on the bottle for appropriate amounts of medicine, especially for children and teens.