Pains & Tips

Soft tissue injuries are a common injury in sport. They generally involve sprain, strain or direct blows to one of the following soft tissues:

• Muscle
• Tendon
• Ligament

Causes and symptoms

Types of soft tissue injuries include:

• Acute injury - Injuries that occur from a known or sometimes unknown incident. Signs and symptoms develop rapidly.
• Sprain - Sprains are caused when the joint is forced beyond its normal range of motion resulting in overstretching or tearing of the ligament that supports the joint. Signs and symptoms: Swelling, loss of power, ability to bear weight, possible bruising and/or sudden onset of pain.
• Strain - Strains are caused by muscles over-stretching or contracting too quickly, resulting in a partial or complete tear of the muscle and/or tendon. Signs and symptoms: Swelling, possible bruising and/or pain on movement.
• Overuse Injury - Overuse injuries occur as a result of repetitive friction, pulling, twisting or compression that develops over time. Signs and symptoms: Will develop slowly, inflammation, pain.

Tips

To help relieve muscle, tendon and ligament inflammation caused by a sport injury, try the below tips in conjunction with Inflamax Spray:

• Rest - and take a break from any activity that may cause pain, as continued use can delay the healing process
• Ice - helps reduce pain and swelling. Apply an ice or cold pack for 20 minutes every 2 or 3 hours for the first 48 hours
• Compression - can decrease the swelling. Wrap the sore area with an elastic bandage. Avoid wrapping too tightly
• Elevate - the sore area while sitting or lying down. Try to keep it at or above the level of your heart
• The No Harm protocol should also be applied – no heat, no alcohol, no running or activity, and no massage in the first 48 hours. This will ensure decreased bleeding and swelling in the injured area.

The information above is general in nature, it is not a substitute for medical advice and you should always consult a healthcare professional

Source: Sport Medicine Australia – Soft Tissue Injuries Fact Sheet