It’s always frustrating when you get injured and take time off from your favorite sport. The good news is that there are many things you can do to recover faster and be back on the court or field in no time!
This post explores what an injury is, whether it is severe, and what you should do to aid healing.
What is a sports injury?
A sports injury is an injury you get while participating in a sport. They’re also called overuse injuries, as they result from repetitive movements while practicing or playing. You may be advised to wear a support on any injured joints, for example, a wrist or knee support. You can buy either wrist support or a knee support brace from podobrace.co.uk.
What’s the difference between strains and sprains?
The injury is called a strain when a muscle or tendon is stretched or torn. If the ligaments are torn, the damage is called a sprain. Muscle strains are most common, but either can happen while playing sports. The specific treatment depends on whether it’s a strain or sprain and how bad it is.
How can I tell if it’s an injury or just soreness?
Even though you’re sore after exercising, most of the time, your pain will go away in a day or two. With an injury, there may be a snap when you move your body in a certain way. You also may have pain at rest, and the pain won’t go away. It’s common for both to feel worse when you wake up, but it’s essential to tell the difference between soreness and an injury. Let the healthy tissue heal before going back to sports.
How bad is it?
Think of these as grades: Grade 1 (mild), Grade 2 (moderate), and Grade 3 (severe). If you have pain but no swelling, that’s usually a Grade 1. You have swelling, and it hurts to move and feels better at rest, that’s usually a Grade 2. If you also have swelling and can’t move your joint, that’s a Grade 3 injury.
What should I do if it’s a Grade 3 injury?
Your doctor or trainer may apply the RICE treatment. It stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. This is usually for a strain or sprain that involves swelling. You also may need to take anti-inflammatory medicine and use crutches until you feel better. After a week of healing, your doctor or sports therapist may have you start exercises to strengthen the injured area before returning to sports.
Do I need surgery?
Surgery isn’t necessary for most overuse injuries because they heal well with time off from sports and other activities. If your joint has been injured and it can’t be helped, you will need surgery to repair the damaged tissue.
How long will it take to heal?
A time frame will depend on what you do. An injury heals faster if you stop participating in the sport that caused it; many people recover while still playing. If your doctor says you need surgery, ask how long it will take before you can play sports again without hurting yourself further. This depends on how active a lifestyle you lead and what type of activity it is. You’ll want to ensure that your joints are completely healed before returning to sports or other high-impact activities.
