| Sports injuries are common and expected for those | | | | While comparing one side of the body to the other |
| who enjoy an active lifestyle. But according to | | | | for weakness or muscle fatigue can often be hard to |
| experts in the sports medicine field, there are | | | | do, it can also be helpful when assessing injury. To |
| warnings signs that you may have an injury that | | | | test for weakness, lift the same weight with the |
| needs attention. While some sports injuries are | | | | right and left side and look at the result. Or place |
| evident immediately, others can grow progressively | | | | body weight on one leg and then the other. A |
| worse with time. If both types of injuries are | | | | difference in the ability to support your weight is |
| ignored, chronic problems can occur. | | | | another indicator that an injury may require a |
| Joint pain, particularly in the joints of the knee, ankle, | | | | physician's attention. |
| elbow and wrist, should never be ignored. These | | | | Numbness and tingling should never be ignored. These |
| joints are not covered by muscle and therefore pain | | | | sensations are often related to nerve compression, |
| in these regions is rarely because of muscular strain. | | | | and these warning signs may indicate serious injury |
| If you experience joint pain that lasts more than 48 | | | | that should always be attended to by a physician. |
| hours, seek a physician's diagnosis as soon as | | | | Treating a Sports Injury |
| possible. | | | | If any of the above warning signs appear after |
| If after exercise or sports, you experience pain at a | | | | physical activity, your first concern is to prevent any |
| specific point in a bone, muscle or joint when you | | | | further damage. To do so, stop all activity and begin |
| press a finger into it, you may have a significant | | | | treatment immediately. It's important to not the |
| injury. If the same spot on the other side of the | | | | problem get any worse or let the swelling continue. |
| body does not produce the same tenderness, it | | | | Once you can locate the source of the injury, you |
| would be a good idea to see a doctor. | | | | can begin to remedy the problem. |
| It's not unusual to have swelling in connection with a | | | | For any acute injury, the first line of defense to |
| sports injury, as nearly all injuries of this type cause | | | | reduce swelling is the R.I.C.E. treatment. Swelling of an |
| swelling. Swelling is usually quite obvious and can be | | | | injured area causes pain and loss of motion, which in |
| seen easily. Occasionally, however, something may | | | | turn will limit the use of the muscles. Muscles that are |
| look normal even though it feels swollen. Swelling | | | | unused will weaken, shorten and resist repair. The |
| goes hand-in-hand with pain, redness and heat. When | | | | R.I.C.E. treatment calls for Rest, Ice, Compression, |
| swelling within a joint occurs, you will often | | | | and Elevation. Avoid the use of heat to the injured |
| experience joint pain and stiffness. The injury may | | | | area as heat will increase circulation and increase |
| also produce a clicking sound as the tendons snap | | | | swelling. |
| over one another after having been pushed into a | | | | Step by Step Injury Treatment |
| new position from the swelling. | | | | 1. Stop the activity immediately. |
| While swelling may not be obvious in every injury, it | | | | 2. Wrap the injury in a compression bandage. |
| can also be identified by checking for a reduced | | | | 3. Apply ice to the injury for no more than 15 |
| range of motion in a joint. When there is significant | | | | minutes at a time. (Use a bag of crushed ice or a bag |
| swelling within a joint, an individual will lose range of | | | | of frozen vegetables) |
| motion. The limb will only be able to go so far in each | | | | 4. In order to avoid frostbite, let the area warm |
| direction. If you suspect injury, compare one side of | | | | completely before applying ice again |
| the body with the other to identify any differences; | | | | 5. Elevate the injured area to reduce swelling. |
| if there are any, you likely have an injury that needs | | | | 6. See a physician for proper diagnosis of any serious |
| attention. | | | | injury. |