Compression wraps – also called compression bandages- can be used in various circumstances and for many different ailments or injuries. It is highly probable that you will find the compression wraps on every first aid kit that you find. A few of the reasons for them being so popular is their effectiveness pervasiveness and inexpensiveness. What I mean is that these are very cheap and are available very conveniently. You can just go to the drug store around the block and by them, you can even buy them in bulk online if you’re looking for discounts.
Most common uses for compression wrapping
As we mentioned how popular it is in the medical field, it is important to understand how and when to use a compression bandage. These are usually used in applying pressure to a specific area that resultantly assists in reducing swelling by making sure that the fluids are not gathered in the area of injury.
Most common conditions where compression bandages can be used are:
- Contusions or bruises
- Varicose veins
- Swollen limbs
- Muscle strains
- Ankle Wrist sprains
Method of Wrapping a sprained ankle
If you have sprained your ankle, one of the first things that a doctor will tell you is to make sure to wrap that area so that the swelling does not increase as the time passes by. In order to do that there are the following things that you should keep in mind.
- Place the injured ankle at a 90-degree angle and begin the wrapping process around the foot’s ball and arch twice.
- Circle the bandage all-around your ankle with a bandage over your foot and cross back over to the opposite side of the foot.
- You need to continue doing this in an 8-figure pattern.
- After you have covered the area of the sprained ankle make sure to secure the end of the bandage somehow so that it doesn’t bother the skin.
- The wrap should be steady but also not too tight as that can be disastrous as well.
Process of wrapping a sprained wrist
- You need to circle the bandage all over your wrist initially, the wrapping process should begin at the Pinky side of your hand and your hand must be facing down.
- Then you will have to cross the wrapped back down on to your wrist and then wrap it again around your wrist.
- Now just reverse the wrap to the pinky side of the hand and around your palm, wrap your wrist again completely and use this rest of the compression wrap to make sure your wrist is stabilized and not movable. Once again the wrap should not be too tight. You can see if the wrap is tight by making sure that fingers are not going numb after some time
