Taking Care of Sports-Related Injuries
When it comes to playing sports, it doesn’t matter your level of experience or how careful you are about preventing injuries. Sometimes injuries still happen and you get hurt. When an injury occurs, it’s vital to take care of yourself properly so you can heal quickly and correctly.
Tips for treating a fresh injury
The first thing you must do if you suspect you’ve got an injury is to stop playing the sport. Warning signs might include throbbing, a tingling sensation, or muscle fatigue. Take a break and rest to see if the pain goes away and stays away. If the pain returns, you likely have an injury.
To treat your injury, follow the R.I.C.E. method (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation.) R.I.C.E. is an acronym commonly used by athletes, trainers and those in sports medicine for remembering how to treat a minor injury.
- Rest: Don’t continue playing your sport or exercising. Your injured muscle or ligament needs time to heal, whether that’s a few days or several weeks.
- Ice: Place an ice pack or bag of crushed ice on the injured area immediately. Ice reduces pain and prevents swelling. Icing helps the healing process best within the first few days after an injury occurs. To avoid frostbite, don’t forget to wrap the ice in a towel or cloth before applying it to the injury. Keep the ice pack on for 15-20 minutes and remove it. Allow your skin to return to normal temperature before applying the ice pack again.
- Compression: To stop fluid from accumulating and to help ease pain, wrap an elastic bandage securely around your injury. It should be tight enough to immobilize the injured body part, but not so tight that it causes numbness or tingling. If that occurs, rewrap the bandage more loosely so it doesn’t stop blood flow to the injured area.
- Elevation: Keeping the injured area raised above the level of your heart will reduce swelling by allowing fluid to drain away from the area.
Nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory pain relievers like ibuprofen can also help decrease inflammation and reduce pain. Make sure to follow usage directions for any medication.
What to do if your injury doesn’t improve
If your injury hasn’t improved after about three weeks of home treatment, or you suspect it’s more serious than a mild injury, you might need professional medical attention. Check with a doctor if you’re experiencing:
- Dizziness, trouble breathing or fever
- Infection, pus, red streaks
- Any injury with immediate swelling, bruising or bleeding
- Severe pain, numbness or loss of movement
- Eye or head injuries
The recovery process for mild injuries is important and following the R.I.C.E. method can typically help you get back to training or playing sports within about a month. Make an appointment with your doctor if pain persists and symptoms are still present after a month.
Of course, if pain and swelling are severe, or your range of movement is affected, your doctor will likely recommend an X-ray and a consultation with an orthopedic professional to ensure proper treatment. If you’re worried that an injury is more severe, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment.
Orthopedic Corner | Leon Mead MD Orthopedic Doctor | 730 Goodlette Road North, Suite 201 Naples Florida 34102 | Phone: (239) 262-1119