Sports Injury Treatment
A sports injury is an inflammatory condition of a muscle, bone or soft tissue that occurs during physical activity. This type of injury is common among children and adults who participate in athletic or recreational activities.
The treatment for a sports injury depends on the location and severity of the injury. A mild injury, such as a sprain or strain, can be treated at home by resting, icing, compressing and elevating (R-I-C-E) the injured area. The ice reduces inflammation and decreases pain, while the compression keeps swelling to a minimum. The elevation, or raising the injured body part above your heart, also helps control inflammation and reduces pain. In addition, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), such as aspirin or ibuprofen, can help reduce the pain and swelling of many sports injuries.
If a serious or life-threatening injury is suspected, the injured person should be taken to the nearest emergency room right away. A health care provider can then determine what further treatment is needed, such as a splint or cast, and order imaging tests, such as an X-ray or computed tomography (CT) scan, to assess the extent of the injury.
Many sports Sports Injury Treatment in frisco injuries are minor, such as a strained muscle or sprained ankle. But even these injuries can be quite painful and interfere with regular exercise or sporting activities. Severe injuries include broken bones, which can happen when a bone is knocked against another bone or is forced against a hard object. Also, some injuries, such as a ruptured Achilles tendon, can be very dangerous and cause severe pain and difficulty walking.
To help prevent sports injuries, it is important to warm up and stretch before physical activity, and to wear proper athletic shoes and equipment. It is also helpful to gradually increase the intensity of your workouts over time, rather than jumping into a new exercise program at full speed. Finally, remember to always stop an exercise or sport immediately if it causes pain. Continuing to exercise through the pain can worsen your injury.
Injuries to the muscles, tendons and ligaments are the most common types of sports injuries. Often, these injuries are the result of improper training or overuse. But injuries can also be caused by sudden movement or changes in the intensity of your routine, which puts extra stress on joints and muscles that are not used to it.
A tendon injury is usually the result of overuse and can lead to severe pain. Other symptoms of a tendon injury include swelling, tenderness and limited mobility. Some of the most common tendons injured during sports are tennis elbow (tennis elbow), jumper’s knee or patellofemoral pain syndrome (abnormal pain or tenderness near the front of the kneecap, called the patella) and iliotibial band syndrome (pain along the iliotibial band in the hip).
The R-I-C-E method is generally recommended for sports injuries. This involves resting the injured area, applying ice several times a day to reduce inflammation and pain, and using a compression wrap or splint to support the injury. NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen or naproxen, can also help reduce the pain and swelling of some sports injuries.