Injuries that occur during strenuous exercise and training, especially among athletes, are among the most common injuries that cause sprains and ruptures of tendons and ligaments in the various joints of the body. In this article, learn about the symptoms of Ligaments torn And how it happens and its complications and different treatment methods.

What are ligaments?

They are bands of elastic tissue that connect bones to each other and work to support joints and control their movement. Ligaments are found in the joints of the knees, ankles, elbows, shoulders and other joints in the body.

What is torn ligaments?

Ligament rupture is a type of injury that occurs to the ligaments as a result of exposure to an accident or as a result of injury during exercise. It is normal for the ligaments to stretch around, causing them to tear.

Degrees of ligament rupture

There are 3 degrees of ligament tear:

• The first degree is called a mild ligament tear.
• The second degree is called a median ligament tear.
• The third degree is called an acute ligament tear.

Body joints in which ligaments are torn

• Ankle ligament rupture.
• Knee ligament rupture is called Cruciate ligament ruptureIt is the most common injury among athletes.
• The 20 ligaments of the wrist were torn, and rupture may occur as a result of a fall on the hand.
• Thumb ligament tear, which occurs when the injured person falls on his hand, causing the thumb to twist in an abnormal position.
• Neck ligaments rupture, which occurs as a result of severe injury during an accident as a result of sudden movement and exaggerated twisting of the cervical vertebrae, and also includes other injuries to muscles, bones and nerves.
• Back ligament tears, which can be caused by lifting something heavy.

Signs of ligament rupture

There are several symptoms of ligament rupture that may appear as soon as the injury occurs or shortly after the injury, and they are:

• Feeling pain in the joints.
• Swelling and bruising at the site of the injury.
• Inability to move the joint easily and abnormally.
• You may hear a snap or feel a tear the moment the injury occurs.
• Abnormal bone appearance at the site of injury.

Diagnosis of ligament rupture

In the beginning, and if these symptoms appear on you, you should go to the doctor who will conduct a physical examination and ask you about the activity that you were practicing at the time of your injury. To be sure, the doctor will order an X-ray of the injury area, and he may order an MRI to determine the degree of rupture.

Ligament rupture treatment

The treatment of ligament rupture depends on several stages, as follows:

First aid for torn ligaments

• Once you are injured, you must completely rest the affected area so that the pressure and load on it is relieved.
• You can use cold compresses and place them on the affected joint and leave them for a while so that the swelling does not increase.
• To reduce the pain, you can massage the affected area with a piece of ice until you can go to the doctor.
• Elevate the injured joint at a high level so that the blood flow to it stops and thus the swelling subsides a little.

pharmaceutical

The doctor may prescribe some anti-inflammatory medications and analgesics such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen. These medications may help reduce swelling with rest, as well as relieve pain.

natural therapy

The doctor may direct you to do physical therapy, especially in cases of severe injury. The goal of this treatment is to reduce swelling and help the joints return to normal movement again.

Ligament tearing exercises

The doctor may advise you to do some exercises, such as stretching and stretching exercises, and exercises to strengthen the joints, but you should not do any exercises on your own so as not to make your condition worse, and if you feel pain after doing the exercises, you should tell your doctor immediately.

surgery

In some cases, the doctor may resort to surgical intervention if you are a sports player and want to quickly return to your sport, or if the cartilage is also injured next to the ligaments, or if you suffer from lameness as a result of the rupture, but it is not always the best choice. If the ligaments problem is simple, it is better to leave it until it heals. all by herself.

In surgery, the doctor removes the torn ligament and replaces it with a part of the tendons. After surgery, you must continue physical and rehabilitative therapy, which can last for a long time until it fully recovers.

Things to avoid after a ligament tear

• Completely avoid heat, warm compresses, and hot showers for 72 hours after the injury, because heat stimulates blood flow and thus increases inflammation and swelling.
• Avoid alcoholic beverages as they increase bleeding and swelling and delay the healing process.
• Avoid strenuous physical activity.
• Avoid massaging the affected area for 72 hours, which can increase swelling.

In the end, we advise you to rest completely in the event of any kind of ligament rupture, because rest is the first path to recovery, and you should not rush to return quickly to your physical activities so as not to make the injury worse.