5 First Aid Tips for Sports-Related Injuries
Posted on Wed, Dec 21, 2011 @ 02:46 PM
Punishing sports like professional football and competitive gymnastics take a toll on athletes' bodies, but even recreational sports or aerobics can result in sports-related injuries. Even yoga, one of the gentlest forms of physical activity, resulted in an average of one injury severe enough to merit a doctor's visit per 5,000 participants last year, according to Yoga Journal.
While any intense pain during activity requires medical attention to check for more severe injury, knowing some first aid can bring you relief until you get to the clinic.
Travel with a Phone or a Friend
One of the best first aid measures you can take for sports-related injuries takes place even before you're injured. If you're going hiking, biking or even walking in the park, take along a phone or a companion. A significant injury could leave you stranded, so make sure you have a way to get help before you need it.
Stop the Activity
As unpleasant as it is, pain serves a purpose: it's your body's way of telling you that something is wrong. Listen to your body and heed its advice by immediately stopping your activity. Sudden pain could mean a serious injury such as a tear or sprain, and trying to work through that pain could exacerbate the injury. Take any weight off the affected limb as soon as possible.
Ice the Injury
When you sustain an activity-related injury, the tissues surrounding the injured area swell as your body sends its defenses to the site of the damage. This inflammation puts additional pressure on the injured tissues, causing pain and immobility. Ice a sports-related injury to bring down the swelling and dull the pain. Wrap the ice in a towel and keep it on the affected area for no more than 20 minutes at a time to avoid skin damage due to frostbite. In a pinch, frozen vegetables in a sturdy bag make a good ice pack.
Wrap It Up
Another means of bringing down swelling is compression at the site of the injury. Bandaging the afflicted limb applies steady compression from all directions and also helps hold the injured area immobile, preventing further damage. Wrap bandages firmly, but not tightly; a too-tight bandage reduces blood circulation to the soft tissues surrounding the injured area.
Make an Appointment
Assessing the damage is a job for a sports medicine specialist. Your doctor will use the latest medical imaging technology to determine the extent of the injury, recommend a specific course of home treatment and possibly prescribe medications to help with the pain and swelling. If you've followed the first aid advice to rest, ice and apply compression to the injury, you've done all you can; let your sports medicine specialist take over to speed you on your way back to health.
-- The above article was written by guest blogger Jordan Allen on behalf of Northern Nevada Medical Center. Thank you Jordan and Happy Holidays to all