My joints were ‘sprained’ after going out for a spring outing… Fracture Advisory [e건강~쏙]

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Spring is the time when spring flowers bloom and the number of visitors increases. Naturally, outdoor activities such as outings and walks also increase. However, there are cases where injuries such as sprains or fractures occur while enjoying a hike or viewing flowers. It is especially common in women and the elderly with low bone density.

An ankle sprain is a condition in which the ligaments that support the ankle are abnormally stretched or damaged by an external force, causing pain and instability. It occurs when the ankle is severely twisted or sprained. It affects 2 to 7 people per 1,000 people every year. It is an injury with a high incidence during sports or outings, and is characterized by occurring evenly across men and women.

In most ankle sprains, the ankle is turned inward, and about 80% of patients suffer damage to the ligaments on the outside of the ankle. When an ankle sprain occurs, pain, tenderness, and swelling appear. A first-degree sprain, which causes minor damage to the ligaments or surrounding tissues, does not cause severe pain, but if left untreated, it can develop into ankle instability or ankle tunnel syndrome.

If the sprain is severe, a popping sound may be heard at the moment of injury, and if the ligament damage is severe, it is difficult to put weight on it. Therefore, more attention should be paid to identifying symptoms and treating second-degree sprains, in which a partial rupture of the ligament occurs, and third-degree sprains, in which the ligament is completely severed.

The best thing to do is to pay attention to preventing ankle sprains. If you walk for a long time or use your ankle a lot, it may be helpful to stretch it with a towel beforehand. When walking on a bumpy road, it is best to walk slowly and pay attention to the movement of your ankles. Above all, it is best to protect your ankles from impact by wearing shoes with non-slippery soles and adequate cushioning.

Women and the elderly with low bone density should be as careful of hip fractures as they are of ankle sprains. This is because if a fall accident occurs, such as falling or falling while hiking, the risk of a fracture occurring even with a light impact increases. If a fracture occurs due to a fall, even if it recovers well, there is a high possibility that the fracture will occur again in the future.

In particular, hip fractures, which occur in the proximal part of the femur, are injuries that should be watched out for in older people over the age of 65 who have severe osteoporosis. This is because it can cause various complications, limit freedom of movement, and even lead to life threats.

According to actual studies, the mortality rate within one year due to hip fracture in the elderly is 25%, and the mortality rate within two years is 70%. When a hip joint is fractured, severe pain makes it difficult to stand or walk, leaving the elderly unable to do anything but stay in bed, which has a serious impact on the health of the elderly.

Therefore, surgical treatment is recommended for hip fractures. It is also recommended to be careful to prevent dislocation of the artificial bone head and to carry out consistent rehabilitation management, such as joint exercises to help strengthen muscle strength. Even in everyday life, it is best to refrain from actions such as excessively squatting or sitting on a chair lower than your knees.

Yang Gyu-hyeon, director of orthopedic surgery at Gangnam Peter Hospital, said, “Injuries such as ankle sprains suffered during outings are often overlooked, but this is a shortcut that leads to deterioration of joint health.” He added, “If you sustain an ankle or joint injury, you must check the condition and receive appropriate treatment to prevent chronic injuries. “It can prevent the development of human diseases,” he said.

He continued, “Especially in old age, you need to be careful because even a light hit on your buttocks can break your hip joint. He added, “In particular, in places with a lot of floating population, slopes, or uneven surfaces, move slowly and carefully to avoid falling, but if fatigue becomes strong, it is safe to take a break and regain your attention.”