3 Ways to Treat a Sports Injury

Most sports injuries, aside from bone fractures, affect soft tissues. Ligaments, muscles, and tendons, and to a lesser extent, blood vessels and nerves, are the soft tissues most commonly injured. 

At Metro Anesthesia & Pain Management in West Des Moines and Des Moines, Iowa, we can help you with sports injuries that don’t respond well to home care. However, with a methodical three-way approach, you may have more success with healing and recovery. 

1. Immediate care

Your response at the time of injury and in the first few days after can make a major difference in how your body recovers. Even in cases of severe injury that require medical intervention, your immediate care efforts matter. 

The RICE method is the optimal way to approach most soft-tissue musculoskeletal injuries. It’s a mnemonic for the immediate care steps of: 

Rest

Stop what you’re doing and rest the injured part of your body. That allows your healing systems to start working while preventing additional damage. Playing hurt may seem like part of the game for professionals. Remember, they’re paid to take chances. You probably aren’t. 

Ice

Apply ice packs, wrapped to avoid direct skin contact, 15 minutes per hour for the first day or two. That moderates pain while controlling inflammation. 

Compression

Elastic bandages add support and prevent swelling. Don't overtighten your wrap; that could limit blood flow crucial to your natural healing process. 

Elevation

Raise the injured area above the level of your heart if possible. That aids drainage, another factor in controlling inflammation and swelling. 

2. Recovery

In a home care setting, avoid movement or tasks that irritate the injured area. That's the best thing you can do to stay out of the way of the body’s natural healing. Stay active, however, as long as you can avoid pain at the site of the injury. 

Moderate, low-impact activity supports recovery by stimulating blood flow, the delivery mechanism for the raw materials of healing. As sports injury specialists, we can recommend additional treatments to help speed recovery. 

3. Support

The support phase of healing can start simultaneously with the recovery phase. Support includes things that address your body’s core functions, such as maintaining a healthy sleep cycle. Sleep is a crucial time for body repairs, helping you recover on or ahead of schedule. 

Also, stay hydrated. Water is a key component to healthy living overall as well as healing. A diet that balances lean proteins, fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats provides your body with the building blocks for fast recovery. 

Contact Metro Anesthesia & Pain Management when you need assistance beyond home care for sports injuries. We offer a wide range of modalities to shorten your downtime. Call or click to schedule an appointment with our nearest office today.