If you play sports, sooner or later you are probably going to have an injury.
It’s the nature of the beast – sports activities require strenuous physical activities and movements, from more natural activities such as walking, running or jumping to a range of motion activities.
It’s important to understand the nature of your injury and what you need to do to alleviate it. The staff of Aurora Foot and Ankle Clinic stand ready to help those in the Langley or Barnaby, British Columbia area when they experience a sports injury.
There are basically two types of injuries, acute and chronic. Acute injuries occur while the athlete is engaged in his or her sport. Examples of acute injuries include but are not limited to sprains, strains, and fractures. Chronic injuries are conditions caused or exacerbated by athletic activity and generally manifest either during exercise or after one is finished performing the activity. Signs of chronic injury include but are not limited to pain during exercise, a dull ache while at rest, and swelling.
If you are injured and you feel any of the following signs or symptoms, you should seek treatment:
- Severe pain, swelling, or numbness
- Inability to put weight on the injured area
- Aches, pains, or swelling from an old injury
- A joint feels unstable or abnormal
However, not all injuries require medical attention; indeed many injuries can be treated at home. If you do not have any symptoms such as described above, you can start treating the injury using the RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) method. Follow these four steps for at least 48 hours after you experience an injury.
- Rest – Rest and protect the sore or injured area.
- Ice – Apply an ice or cold pack for 10-20 minutes at least three times a day. Do not apply the ice directly to the skin.
- Compression – wrap the injured area – but not too tightly -- with an elastic bandage
- Elevate – elevate the injured area whenever you are resting or whenever you are icing the injury.
If the pain persists or little to no improvement occurs, it will probably be necessary to see a doctor. One point is generally agreed upon, however: It is never a good idea to try to “tough it out” or play through pain; you should always stop exercise when you feel pain and you should always deal with the injury immediately.
For more information or to setup an appointment call 604-248-8985.