We will do a basic overview of a typical sports injury.
In any injury acute management is very important. Here we will look at the progression from injury to recovery, specifically regarding the muscle or tendons
Stage 1: This is the phase directly after the injury where there is an immediate local (tissue) reaction. This phase lasts roughly 0 – 60 min. During this phase we will treat the acute injury with the accronym
P – protection
R – rest
I – ice
C – compress
E – elevate
Stage 2 is where acute inflammation happens. This lasts up to 72 hours post injury. You will often see that the injured area is swollen
During the Third stage repair start to happen. This can up to 42 days
The fourth stage/phase is where remodelling occurs, basically where your body adapts to the changes
As different processes happen at different times we also manage them differently
Anti-inflammatory is often only given 24 hours after the injury due to concern that NSAID therapy for muscle injury may delay healing, weaken tissue, and lead to impaired function. There are some conflicting reports about this. We do know that paracetamol is safe. A patient can also take a muscle relaxant in the initial phases but only for 4-5 days. Corticosteroids should never be given for a soft tissue injury
A sonar/ultrasound often gives the best results on day 3 or later, when most of the swelling has subsided
When you enter the third and fourth stage, rehabilitation is extremely important. This is to strengthen the injured area and prevent future injuries (which is very common). Re-injury rates is extremely high, especially without rehabilitation. For some injuries this can be up to 70%. Stiffness in the area can also be a concern
It is always best to consult with a health care provider when you sustain an acute injury. Treatment will be individualized based on the type and place of injury
