Why is an elastic bandage used on the knee and how to apply it correctly?

Thigh muscle strain – a common injury during sports. Sometimes it is enough to make too sweeping a leg movement during warm-up to damage the quadriceps femoris muscle, which is responsible for extending the leg at the knee and bringing the thigh closer to the stomach. In addition, when playing sports, the muscles of the outer (lateral) and inner (medial) thighs often suffer.

A medical elastic bandage is used to treat sprains. In this article, we will explain what a compression bandage is and explain how to wrap your thigh with an elastic bandage when stretching various muscle groups.

Elastic bandages as an orthopedic product

Elastic bandage is a special medical bandage with special rubber threads woven into its fabric. Thanks to this structure, this product has a wide range of applications, unlike conventional gauze bandages.

There is also a second name - plaster bandage , although the name is less common. They call it a plaster bandage because during use it often performs the functions of plaster. Although gypsum cannot be completely replaced, the principle of operation remains similar.

Wide elastic bandages

Common Causes of Sprains

Sprains in the hand often occur in everyday life. Provoking factors include injuries from falling, unsuccessful movements, and heavy loads on the hand.

Children are also subject to this type of stretching. Often this happens due to the fault of parents. If you suddenly lift a fallen child by the hand, it is very easy to cause an injury to the hand.

Athletes most often suffer from this disease; some exercises greatly increase the risk of injury. A hand tendon strain may occur.

Tendons are parts of muscles that have increased density and lack elasticity. With its help, muscle tissue is attached to bone tissue. Therefore, if the integrity of the tendon is compromised, then some functions of the hand may fail.

There are several main causes of hand sprains:

sudden and careless movement; lifting weights; unsuccessful landing during a fall or after a jump; heavy physical activity; regular and very active sports. Tendon problems can occur for the following reasons:

Tendon problems can occur for the following reasons:

• single or repeated joint injury;
• bacterial infection that affects the tendons;
• rheumatism;
• diseases of the spine;
• anatomical disorders in the structure of the joint;
• some diseases of the immune system;
• dysplasia of the joints of the hands, congenital or acquired;
• neuropathy.

What is an elastic bandage for?

Most believe that this medical product is used in narrow areas of medicine.

In fact, there are quite a few areas of use:

• Treatment and prevention of venous diseases . For example, varicose veins. The period of use is preoperative and postoperative.
• Prevention and treatment of sports injuries. The product is intended for fixation of joints and soft tissues in case of injuries. An example of an injury could be a sprain, torn ligament, dislocation, and much more. Depending on the type of injury, different types of elastic bandages are used.
• Preventing the formation of hematomas and keeping endoprostheses in a stable condition during plastic surgery.

In the field of plastic surgery, elastic bandages are an almost indispensable attribute, especially when it comes to major operations.

Ankle sprain treatment at home

According to statistics, ankle sprains are in third place after the most common diseases. And if the bulk of all limb injuries occur in the winter, then seasonal characteristics do not affect this type of injury.

Ankle pain causes and treatment

The ankle joint is strong thanks to muscles and ligaments. A sprained ligament leads to the fact that it ceases to perform its functions of maintaining body weight. Internal processes are not visible. External manifestations are expressed by the following symptoms:

• pain;
• decreased foot mobility;
• tumor;
• redness of the tissue over the joint;
• an increase in temperature in the damaged area.

The intensity of symptoms depends on the degree of injury. If minor damage to the fibers occurs, the patient experiences mild pain, noticeable only when walking. By palpation you can feel the damaged ligament. A severe pain reaction may indicate a partial tear of the ligament.

It is accompanied by swelling of the limb. Sprains are not injuries that need to be treated in a hospital setting. For home treatment, complete rest for several days is recommended. Additionally, physiotherapeutic procedures in the form of baths, paraffin, and massage may be prescribed.

If, as a result of the injury, you cannot step on your foot, swelling is observed and hemorrhage appears on the surface of the foot, which means that the ligament has ruptured. In the process, it may even separate from the joint.

It is possible to determine such an injury using an x-ray. The image will show torn pieces of bone tissue. In this case, novocaine is injected for pain relief.

A home regimen and complete rest for several days are also prescribed.

The causes of stretching may be:

• uncomfortable position while walking or playing sports;
• unsuccessful landing after a jump;
• wearing uncomfortable shoes;
• awkward twisting of the foot.

All sprains can be treated at home. To do this, you should walk less for several days and avoid intense movements. The leg is kept at rest. It is better to place it on a pillow or chair. After a couple of days, you can begin to warm up the foot, doing flexion, extension, and rotation. At the first sign of pain, exercise should be stopped.

In addition to rest and bandages, you can use folk recipes for a speedy recovery:

1. Applications made from a mixture of vegetables (raw potatoes, salted cabbage and onions mashed with sugar) and clay diluted with curdled milk. Apply the compress at night;

2. A compress of garlic, ground with any animal fat, and eucalyptus leaves. Lubricate the skin until inflammation is relieved. Although it is worth noting that doctors believe that such a compress can worsen the condition, because Garlic causes increased blood flow, which means the swelling will not decrease.

The famous healer Vanga recommended using a cold compress, a tight bandage and ice for sprains, which does not diverge from the traditional treatment offered by medicine.

Another recommendation is to massage the damaged joint: apply pressure to the sore spot for 5 minutes and knead the sore spots and nearby muscles with your fingers. But such manipulations are best carried out after several days of rest.

If the ligaments in the ankle joint are sprained, a bandage is applied

First aid is an important step in treating a sprain. It is best not to wait until a tumor forms. To do this, the leg is placed on an elevation and kept in this position for up to half an hour.

The most effective bandage is made from an elastic bandage. It increases blood flow in the muscles, which will allow them to recover faster. The foot is fixed in the desired position with a figure-eight bandage.

In this case, the bandage is applied from the toes to the middle of the calf. Ice is placed on top of the bandage. It is kept for no more than 15 minutes. After which the procedure with ice is repeated an hour later.

This will make it possible to prevent or reduce tumors.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=embed/xTbhnSaoSMI

Any pain in the ankle should alert you. Even minor damage to the ligaments, if not taken promptly, can later develop into a serious problem. Therefore, it is better not to let it happen and consult a traumatologist about treatment.

How to use a bandage correctly?

Let’s look at the list of main features of use and try to answer the most popular questions from patients:

• Use as directed by a doctor. It is recommended to find out from specialists whether such a bandage should be applied in a particular situation, which one to choose, and how to apply it correctly. In some situations, self-medication can be harmful.
• The duration of use depends on the purpose of applying the bandage. If this is the postoperative period, then it is removed after 4-5 days. If the bandage is applied due to injury, the period may be several weeks.
• Elastic bandages can and should be removed at night. This helps prevent swelling and helps the skin begin to “breathe.” It is almost always recommended to remove the bandages at night.
• It is forbidden to remove the bandage only if the bandage is applied to stop bleeding, during postoperative periods, etc. In these cases, medical workers must report this. If nothing happens when the bandage is removed (for example, the patient is wearing it after a sprain), then it is recommended to sleep without it.
• An elastic bandage is applied in the morning. For the patient, such a procedure should be as familiar and obligatory as, for example, brushing your teeth. Wake up, put on a bandage, and then go do the rest of your business.

How to tie a bandage correctly?

Let's look at the step-by-step instructions and a number of basic recommendations:

• If you need to bandage your legs, then this should be done in the morning, without getting out of bed in a sitting position. During this period of time, swelling of the lower extremities is minimal, since there is no load on them at night.
• The bandage is applied evenly and without folds. Various folds and bends damage the skin when moving, create additional swelling, and can bring constant discomfort. It is better to spend more time, but fix the bandage evenly and without wrinkles.
• An elastic bandage is applied on the legs, starting from the joints of the toes . Next, you should tie the heel and move to the shin. This method will help to avoid slipping and will provide maximum effect, allowing you to secure the entire dressing securely.
• On the hands, the elastic bandage is initially wrapped around the wrist , then around the thumb, and only then goes to the palm.

In cases where it is necessary to bandage the body, everything is a little more complicated. This is usually necessary as a result of serious injuries, bruises or after surgery. In such cases, patients are taught to apply the bandage by doctors or nurses.

General recommendations for applying an elastic bandage:

• Initially, the bandage should be rolled up . When applied, the roll turns outward (this condition must be met) in close proximity to the skin. This should be done so as not to tighten the bandage in some places, or, on the contrary, to loosen it. If you do everything close to the skin, it is easier to control the tension.
• Each new turn of the bandage overlaps the previous one by 30-50% . This helps to better fix and rewind the required area. If this is not done, the tension will be uneven, and as a result, the desired effect will not be achieved.
• The bandage is always applied not only to the injury site, but also nearby. For example, if the Achilles tendon was injured, then you should rewrap not only the area where the most severe pain is felt, it is advisable to start from the foot and reach almost to the middle of the lower leg to bandage the entire tendon.
• It is usually recommended to wrap the bandage 10-15 centimeters above and below the sore area.
• If the leg is bandaged, then the foot should be wrapped at a right angle to the lower leg.

Applying a bandage

If the elastic bandage is applied correctly, then upon completion of the procedure there should be a slight numbness, and sometimes blueness (we are talking about the fingers). This is normal and goes away in the first 15-20 minutes. If the feeling does not disappear, the procedure must be repeated; the bandage is too tight.

How to apply a bandage to a leg in case of injury

There are general rules for bandaging the lower extremities.

Before the manipulation, the victim should be given the most comfortable and functional position to minimize pain in the future.

Ensure limb immobility by extending it at the hip and knee joints 180 degrees or bending the ankle 90 degrees (if possible).

Using existing furniture (table or chair), place the injured part of the leg as high as possible, preferably at the chest level of the person providing assistance.

While applying the bandage, constantly monitor the condition of the victim: if there is a clear deterioration, the tension of the bandage should be loosened and the direction of the turns should be changed.

The width of the bandage used depends on the location of the lesion and can range from 10 to 14 cm.

The free end of the bandage should be held in the left hand, the bandage itself in the right.

First, make a couple or three fixing turns.

The bandage should be applied from left to right so that the next layer covers the previous one approximately halfway. For ease of movement, the bandage is folded at the folds.

At the end of bandaging, the ends are secured.

Types of elastic bandages

Despite the fact that these products have been used for quite a long time, there are not many types:

• Knitted.
• Woven.
• High stretchability.
• Medium stretch.
• Low elongation.

Types of elastic bandages by type of material

Self-adhesive bandages

They appeared quite recently and have become quite popular, especially among athletes. This option is convenient because applying a self-adhesive bandage is very simple and quick.

Due to its structure, it does not require additional fixation; you just need to attach one end to the other and they will stick together.

The cost of this option varies from 120 to 1200 rubles , depending on the length, manufacturer and color. For example, a white self-adhesive Peha-Haft bandage 4 meters long and 6 centimeters wide will cost 185 rubles.

Self-adhesive bandage Peha-Haft

Types of Ankle Injuries

Doctors distinguish the following types of injuries:

• Supination and pronation.
• Isolated. They are divided into lateral and medial. The lateral ones appear on the outside, and the medial ones on the inside of the ankle.
• Multiple. They are classified into bimalleolar and trimalleolar. The latter are characterized by avulsion of the posterior part of the tibia.
• Injuries with ligament damage.
• Closed and open fractures.
• Ankle fracture with or without displacement.
• Damage with the presence of irregularities in the ankle ring. They form between the ankle fork and the ligaments. These fractures are also divided into stable and unstable. With a stable fracture, the damage affects only one ankle. Unstable fractures are characterized by double or triple malleolar fractures, as well as the presence of ligament tears. Such injuries are also characterized by the presence of external subluxation in the foot.

Thus, if unpleasant signs appear in a limb, the person should be immediately taken to the hospital. Only an experienced doctor, based on examination and additional diagnostic procedures, can make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe competent treatment.

Elastic bandage for surgery

Before some operations, doctors ask you to purchase special elastic bandages. They are of medium elongation and 3-3.5 meters long, unless the doctor himself said otherwise. Dressings during surgery help prevent air embolism.

These dressings are also used after surgery to prevent thromboembolism. You need to wear it for an average of 5 days.

Let's look at a few of the most popular options:

• Idealast. Cost 765 rubles , length 5 meters, width 10 centimeters. One of the most popular options, which can be called the “golden mean”. The disadvantage is the length; it often has to be cut.
• Putterbinde. Cost 870 rubles, length 5 meters, width 10 centimeters. The main advantage is that it is made of 100% cotton. The disadvantage is the high price.
• Idealast-haft. Length 10 meters, width 8 centimeters. Cost 1100 rubles . One of the most expensive, but at the same time the highest quality products, which retains all its properties for a long time. The disadvantage is the length and price.

Bandage Idealast

Putterbinde

Elastic bandage Idealast-haft

Folk remedies for treating illness

Treatment with folk remedies for hand sprains has simple but quite effective recipes. At the acute stage, they can be used as an addition to drug treatment after consultation with the doctor.

In addition, some of them are suitable for a rehabilitation period, which allows the joints to recover faster. The following recipes have worked well:

1. Compress the damaged area with raw potatoes and onions. To prepare, you will need a head of onion and a large potato. The ingredients should be chopped and a little fresh or sauerkraut added. Then you need to take the clay and dilute it with kefir. Mix all ingredients and apply the product to the sore joint overnight.
2. Dough based on water, flour and salt. It is necessary to make a cake and apply it to the affected area. Wrap a towel on top. Remove once the dough has completely hardened. How long the pain will go away depends on the procedure being performed correctly. If the stage is not acute, symptoms will disappear within three days.
3. Onion gruel. Grind the onion using a blender and add sugar to it. Place the resulting mass on gauze or cotton fabric and apply it to a brush.
4. At home, you can prepare an egg-soap mixture. To do this, grate a bar of laundry soap on a fine grater, add raw chicken yolk and a little water. The product is used as a bandage on a sore spot.
5. Before going to bed, you can make a compress of vodka. But you shouldn't leave it overnight.
6. Ointment based on garlic and mint. To prepare, you need to make a paste of garlic and chop mint leaves. Mix everything and pour hot pork fat. The product should sit for a while, then it should be strained and rubbed into the damaged area three times a day.
7. Garlic and lemon juice compress. It is necessary to chop the garlic and squeeze lemon juice into the pulp. Strain the resulting product, dip gauze in it and apply a compress to the damaged area. Hold until the gauze becomes warm. Then soak again and repeat the procedure. This should be done once a day until relief occurs.
8. Alcohol tincture made from garlic, vinegar and vodka. All ingredients in equal quantities must be mixed and left for two weeks. Then strain the product and add a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil. Apply to the brush in the morning, afternoon and evening until improvement occurs.
9. Aloe pulp. To prepare, you need to mash the leaves of the plant and apply to the affected area. Cover the top with a cloth and wrap it with a towel. This will create warmth and enhance the effect.

It is important to understand that traditional medicine has a wide variety of effective recipes. But the result will depend on how correctly they are used and for what stage of the disease

Elastic bandage for hand

The hand is usually bandaged after serious injuries to the hand or elbow joint. It is recommended to wear it for an average of 2 weeks or until pain completely disappears.

Let's consider several options:

• Peha-haft. Self-adhesive bandage. Advantages - convenient to apply, affordable price - 125 rubles . Disadvantages - it is considered disposable.
• Bandage for fixing the wrists A sports option that is more suitable for prevention than for treatment. Used during the rehabilitation period during exercise. You can buy it at a pharmacy for 3,00 rubles.
• Wrist bandage Frei 8503. The bandage is a single design, where you only have to choose the required size. The downside is that this option is only used on the wrist.

Peha-haft bandage on hand

Sports bandage for hand

Wrist bandage Frei 8503

First aid

Anyone can encounter this problem, so it is important to know what to do if you have a sprained hand before seeking medical help. Basic actions:

Basic actions:

1. Ensure complete immobility of the affected hand. To do this, you will need a bandage on the hand when stretching. Elastic bandages are best. If you don't have them, you can use a scarf or scarf. This must be done so as not to disrupt the blood supply to the affected area. When the bandage is applied correctly, the skin should be warm and not bluish.
2. Placing your hand on an elevation will reduce swelling.
3. After this, it is necessary to relieve pain and swelling. To do this, apply cold. You can use a heating pad with cold water or an ice pack. Several approaches will be required. Hold the cold for 15 minutes, then take a break for the same time and apply a heating pad or ice pack again.
4. If you experience severe pain, you need to take a painkiller.

If, during a sprain, unnatural mobility of the joint is observed, then there is a possibility of rupture of the ligamentous fibers. In such a situation, splinting will be necessary.

Elastic bandage for legs

Typically, this option is necessary for the treatment and prevention of injuries.

Here you should purchase long plaster casts to bandage the entire sore area:

• Med textile. Length 5 meters, width 12 cm, price 450-500 rubles . Excellent for the treatment and prevention of any diseases and injuries on the lower extremities.
• Lauma (2 latex Free). Length 5 meters, width 12 cm, cost 850 rubles.

Lauma foot bandage

Med textile bandage

Knee bandage

For the knee area, regular joint bandages are used; they are often replaced with ready-made bandages and knee pads. However, after serious knee injuries, the use of bandages is recommended because they are more effective and provide better support to the leg.

Knee bandage

Ankle bandage

Bandages 1-1.5 meters long are usually used on the ankle. They tie them in a figure eight. One part covers the ankle and the other the foot. The heel is often left open, but sometimes it is also bandaged, depending on the injury.

Leg bandage, types by purpose

There are several types of soft dressings.

Pressure used to stop existing bleeding.

Protective , used to prevent pathogenic microbes from entering the wound and the development of secondary infection. And also - bandages that protect from the influence of the external environment - from injuries from clothing and shoes.

Immobilizing for damage to bones and joints to immobilize a limb.

Corrective – to correct existing joint deformation.

Elastic bandage for injury

The injury is a sprain or sprain with tear. In this case, applying plaster does not make much sense. In this case, good fixation is necessary so that everything grows together correctly and well. This is where an elastic bandage comes to the rescue.

Let's look at a few of the most popular models:

• Meridian. The company has a whole line of options for different types of injuries. At the same time, the products have a fairly low cost, which starts from 110 rubles.
• Lauma. The Latvian company has many options for plaster casts for bruises and injuries. The price of products starts from 300 rubles.

Meridian Trauma Bandage

Medical bandage Lauma

For sprains and bruises

For sprains and bruises, it is better to use an elastic bandage. The basic rule is that you should not overtighten the sore spot, but a fairly tight fixation is necessary.

After a fracture and dislocation

When a fracture occurs, a plaster cast is initially applied. When the plaster is removed, an elastic bandage should be wrapped around the sore spot. This is done until complete recovery. You can stop wearing such a bandage after talking with your doctor.

Stages of physical therapy

One of the important components of the entire rehabilitation period is physical therapy. This is a set of special exercises that develop the limb and restore mobility in it. Therapeutic exercises after an ankle fracture relieve swelling and reduce the risk of such phenomena as post-traumatic flat feet, bone deformities, and heel spurs.

Typically, physical training is prescribed by doctors in the first days after osteosynthesis with minimal load, but then it gradually increases. The first few days of leg development are carried out with a physician, who selects exercises and monitors the correctness of their implementation. When the patient has learned the entire complex, therapeutic exercises for a broken ankle are performed at home.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=embed/QC6O9ZshoEg

Exercises after an ankle fracture include:

• The patient flexes and extends his toes and grasps any small objects with them.
• Rolling a shady ball or small bottle between the soles of your feet.
• Rotation of the ankle joint: first counterclockwise, and then clockwise.
• Walking by rolling your feet from heel to toe.
• Performing adduction and deviation of the foot from the shin.
• Walking around the room in a half-squat.
• Performing the “bicycle” exercise.

A person at home should bend and straighten the ankle joint as often as possible.

If during exercise therapy after a fracture the patient develops unpleasant symptoms, then you should seek advice from a specialist.

A list of actions that a patient should not perform during rehabilitation:

• Jumping, running and leaning heavily on a limb and walking for a long time on the outside and inside of the foot;
• Raise a limb while overcoming obstacles;
• Ride a bike;
• Practice active sports

Often, doctors, when answering the question of how to develop a leg after a fracture, recommend that patients sign up for a swimming pool.

Elastic bandage for ribs

Such measures are usually resorted to if there is a rib fracture, and it is important to choose the right model and bandage the patient. It is not recommended to bandage yourself.

Applying an elastic bandage to the ribs

Plaster casts with low elongation (up to 50%) are best suited:

• FirstAID (intex light). Perhaps one of the best options in the low price range, with fairly good quality it ranges from 200 to 250 rubles.
• Lauma. The company has a large selection of low-stretch bandages and is of very good quality. The price starts from 600 rubles.

FirstAID medical bandage

Elastic bandage lauma

Symptoms of a Sprain

A sprain is accompanied by sharp pain in the joint, the patient experiences pain, and movement is difficult. A sign of an injured leg is a slight limp when walking. At the next stage, swelling and subcutaneous hemorrhages appear; in severe cases, an elevated temperature may persist for several days.

If you have the first symptoms, you should immediately seek medical help; the doctor will conduct an examination and make a diagnosis based on the X-ray data. If a sprain is diagnosed, complete immobility of the damaged body part must be ensured for the period of treatment. The optimal solution in this case is to apply a fixing bandage.

Bandage for varicose veins or compression

The main thing is the length (it must be at least 2.5 meters), and the compression bandage must be at least 50% cotton:

• Lauma (Fabriks). A specially designed compression bandage for the lower extremities has a high degree of extensibility. Price – from 250 rubles.
• Unga SR and Unga VR . They have medium and high elongation, respectively, fit all the necessary parameters and have a price that is an order of magnitude lower than competitors, starting from 120 rubles.

Bint Unga VR

Bint Unga SR

What to eat during recovery

Physical therapy after a broken ankle is not the only way to quickly heal your leg. The patient also needs to know how his nutrition should be structured during a fracture. Every day his diet should contain elements such as calcium, phosphorus, iron, as well as vitamins and mineral complexes. A specialist may also prescribe medications that increase the amount of calcium in the bones.

Failure to follow the recommendations of a specialist can lead to a person developing complications that are dangerous to his health, which can appear both during rehabilitation and after a certain period of time after it. Proper rehabilitation is the key to quick recovery and resumption of physical activity.

Bandage after caesarean section for women

Bandages are worn before surgery to reduce the likelihood of blood clots during the operation itself and reduce the likelihood of air thromboembolism.

After surgery, bandages help blood circulate properly and avoid bleeding. It is prohibited to remove the bandages yourself. Usually the wearing period is no more than 3-5 days.

Bandage after caesarean section for women

Symptoms of an ankle injury

Doctors note that this injury is characterized by the following typical signs:

• Severe pain, the appearance of a crunch and hematoma in the damaged area;
• The formation of edema and loss of general performance of the limb.

Usually, pain appears in a person at the moment of impact, but most often the person is in a state of passion and may not feel it at all. Later, he experiences severe pain and is unable to step on his injured leg. If you do not consult a doctor in time, a person may develop pain shock.

If a strong crunch is heard during the impact, this indicates that the bone is broken. If this is the case, the person will later experience swelling in the injured area. If large vessels are damaged, swelling may appear on the entire surface of the damaged limb.

The appearance of dark spots on the surface of the skin indicates the formation of a hematoma at the site of injury. It forms when there is internal bleeding in the soft tissues. This phenomenon leads to a decrease in the performance of the injured leg.