Injuries
Although sports and exercise programs offer numerous benefits, there is always the risk of injury. Athletes physically strengthen and condition their bodies with the hope of avoiding injuries but unfortunately this does not always prevent them from occurring. Every sport or activity presents different risks of injury. Regardless of the type of injury, evaluation and treatment by a professional must take place as soon as possible after the injury has occurred. This evaluation should include an inspection, physical exam, and if
necessary, diagnostic testing such as x-ray, CT scan, MRI, or NCV/EMG. The time between the injury and seeking professional help will play a vital role in the athlete’s recovery. The more time that passes between the onset of injury and treatment, the higher the risk of further damaging the affected tissue(s), lengthening and complicating the time of recovery.
This is even the case in minor injuries, or aches and pains that one might experience as a result of their sport or activity. It is important to listen to one’s body. Pain is an alert mechanism of the brain to let one know that there is a problem somewhere in the body. Therefore, pain should be immediately addressed, and athletes should not be encouraged to play or train through pain without it being professionally
addressed.
There are many different types of injuries that can occur. A large portion of athletic injuries cause damage to the soft tissues of the body. Soft tissue injuries affect muscles, fascia, tendons and ligaments, which all control and protect the joints. There are two types of soft tissue injuries – closed and open. A closed injury occurs when the soft tissue has been damaged, but the surface of the skin has not been broken. An example of a closed injury would be an ankle sprain. An open injury is the same as a closed injury
except for the fact that it involves a break in the skin. An example of an open injury is a cut or scrape.
Inflammation will infiltrate the affected area, and following this, fibrosis will occur, creating scar tissue adhesions. These adhesions will not develop along the normal fiber patterns of the affected soft tissues. Rather, they will form random patterns, not in accordance with these normal patterns. They may develop within the actual fibers of a particular tissue, or between different tissues all together. This will create restrictions in the function, or range of motion, that will alter movement patterns and biomechanics. As
a result, other tissues will have to do extra work in order to compensate for this lack of function, and over time, may become overloaded themselves. Soft tissue dysfunction may also contribute to degenerative processes in the future. This creates a cyclic pattern of dysfunction and injury that can be avoided by seeking immediate attention.
Strains and sprains are common closed injuries that occur during sports and exercise programs. A strain is a tear in the muscle or tendon fibers. A sprain will stretch or tear ligaments, but not cause a dislocation of the accompanying joint. Both can be categorized as mild, moderate or severe. There are characteristics that help indicate the severity of the injury; pain, temperature, redness and swelling. In addition to these, there may also be a loss of function, or range of motion.
The recommended treatment of choice after an injury has been evaluated by a professional and stabilized is RICE; rest, ice, compression and elevation. This will reduce the risk for further damage to the injured area and control the rate of bleeding.
The next step is to rest the injured area from the painful or offending activity. This will allow the body to begin the healing process, and again, prevent further damage from occurring. If the injured area is not rested, the healing process will be delayed and recovery will be slowed down.
It is also important to note that, depending on the injury, while resting from the offending activity, active and passive treatment to the injured and surrounding areas is of the utmost importance. This will allow the speediest rate of recovery. A healthcare practitioner specializing in neuromusculoskeletal injuries will determine the appropriate treatment.
While the injured area is being protected and rested, ice therapy can begin. This promotes recovery by helping to reduce inflammation at the site of injury. When bloodflow is reduced, swelling and/or pain are minimized. The recommended time for ice therapy is 10-20 minutes, with a 20 minute to one hour rest period between treatments, depending on the location of the injury.
In addition, compression can begin to be applied to the injured area. The compression should firmly lend support to the injured area but should not cut off circulation and/or blood flow.
Finally, the injured area should be elevated approximately 12 inches above the level of the heart whenever possible. This will aid in venous and lymphatic drainage of the affected region, helping reduce inflammation.
Everyone that participates in a sports or exercise program should be aware that injuries sometimes cannot be avoided. The risk of injury can be reduced by properly training and conditioning to enhance performance and function. Unfortunately, there is no way to completely remove the risk. There is no such thing as perfection in the tissues of the body, and, therefore, there is always the chance of overloading a tissue, causing damage. The reality is that injuries will occur when dealing with sports. They can, however, be prevented from worsening by taking some precautions. The most important thing to do when an injury occurs is to seek immediate professional or medical attention and to be evaluated and treated appropriately.
