SPORTS INJURIES
Most injuries are classed as sports injuries when the type of injury would be associated with a sport eg. A sprained ankle when falling down the stairs is similar to one recieved in football, and a bad tackle in rugby can result in a "whiplash" injury normally caused by car crashes. Most of these injuries, if not breaks, are called "soft tissue" damage. Soft tissues are normally muscles, tendons, nerves and ligaments. We all have suffered these injuries at sometime in our lives and most can repair on their own with a little help.
The accronym R.I.C.E is used in the first aid of minor injuries. "R" = REST rest the affected part, "I" = ICE ice the area for 15 minutes every hour for the first 48 hours (where possible) this reduces the swelling in the area and not only helps reduce the pain but also stops pressure being put on the injured part causing more inflamation. "C"= COMPRESSION compress with a bandage (again where possible) this not only immobilises the affected part, but also aids in reducing the swelling. "E" = ELEVATION try to raise the part injured above the heart (where practical of course) for instance if it is your ankle try lying on the sofa with the leg raised on the back of it, or if a wrist injury, wear a sling.
After the initial 48 hours the inflamation should be reducing, the next step is to apply heat to encourage the blood flow to the area assisting in the healing process. Most injuries treated this way should start to feel better within a few days. Pain killers and anti inflammatory drugs can help, but please, as always, consult a doctor or pharmacist before taking them.
After 4 or 5 days, if no improvement has been noticed, this is the time to seek professional help. Leaving it too long can only add to your discomfort and also can lead to "scarred" tissue, which in turn, can itself cause problems later on. ie. it could leave the damaged area weakened and prone to damage in the future. Active people or those with manual jobs may want to seek treatment after the initial 48 hour period to increase the speed of recovery, thus, saving maybe a period off work, or out of participating in active lifestyles.
The commonest places for injuries are the ankles, knees, wrists, elbows and the neck. Not forgetting the back which I will cover seperately. Everyone has heard of sprains and strains, but what is the difference I hear you ask? A SPRAIN affects ligaments and is normally due to a tear in the ligament which can happen when you "go over" on your ankle. Ligaments are found in joints and they are basically like rubber bands which hold the joints together. A STRAIN is the tearing or pulling of a muscle or tendon, again resulting in a tear.
What can be done to help these injuries? Varying methods can be used, but I use ultra sound, laser, farradic, cupping and massage, or any combination of these during your visit. Between visits I may give you some exercises and/or stretches (nothing too strenouous though) to do while at home. I would suggest an initial three visits, where the injury will be assessed, and the progress of the treatment monitored, normally three should surfice in "Kick starting" the body to repair itself, but on ocassions especially with more severe problems, more treatments may be needed, again though, this is entirely up to you.
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