Sprains/Strains Follow-Up Guide: What Parents Need to Know

Understanding Sprains & Strains

What is it? 

Common Types

• Sprain: An injury to the ligaments—the strong, fibrous tissues connecting bones at a joint. Sprains often happen when a child twists, lands awkwardly, or falls suddenly.
• Strain: Affects muscles or tendons—the tissues that connect muscles to bones. Strains often result from overuse (like playing sports without enough warmup) or repetitive motions.

When to Manage at Home

✅ You can manage your child's sprain at home when:

• They can bear weight on the affected limb  
• There is no numbness or tingling/loss of sensation 
• They still have good range of motion 
• There may be mild swelling or bruising but it should slowly improve after the first 24 hours, not worsen

How to Treat at Home 

 🏠 Home remedies for sprains:

Safe Medications

• NSAID’s
  
  • Ibuprofen (Motrin/Advil) is best as it is anti-inflammatory, you can give a weight based dose every 6 hours for the first 48-72 hours to help with swelling and inflammation. 
    
• Tylenol can be used for pain but it won’t help with swelling! 

When to Contact Poppins 

📱 Contact us again when:

• Symptoms are worsening after the first 24 hours from the injury, or not improving after 3-5 days of a suspected sprain/strain

When to Go to Urgent Care / ER

🚨 Seek immediate emergency care if your child is: 

• Unable to walk or move the affected area that is injured and you think it might be broken - go to whichever facility you know has XRAY!
• Has a loss of feeling or numbness/tingling to the area that is injured 
• Has open breaks in the skin or needs stitches 
• Has a concern for a bad head hit with the fall (loss of consciousness, vomiting, confusion, etc) 

If your gut tells you something is wrong, don't hesitate to reach out. Need help? Reconnect with our on-demand team of medical staff available 24/7.