It’s too common to hurt yourself during exercise, physical activity, or sports. The injuries you sustain during athletic activities like sports and non-athletic activities like exercise are branded as sports injuries.
According to an estimate, approximately 3.5 million sports injuries occur annually in the United States. These injuries can be mild or severe as well as acute (appear suddenly) or chronic (develop over time).
Let’s talk about what you should do to heal an injury if you have sustained one and where you can go in Austin, TX, to get the treatment for your sports injury.
Ways to Heal Sports Injuries
Treatment of sports injuries depends on many factors, including the type of injury, the severity of the injury, and the part of the body affected. Most sports injuries are minor and heal on their own within a few days or weeks with simple strategies like rest. On the other hand, severe injuries such as broken bones, concussions, and others take months to heal.
Following are some common ways to heal your sports injuries that are minor and don’t require emergency care.
- Rest
If you get hurt during an exercise or physical activity, stop doing that activity immediately. This is because if you ignore your injury and keep going, you can cause more harm. Plus, do not do that activity or use your injured part for a few days.
If your lower body part is injured, do not put weight on it, and use crutches.
- Ice
Put ice or cold packs on the injured area to combat swelling and pain. You can ice your injured area for 15 to 20 minutes every few hours. Make sure not to put ice directly on the injured area, as it can impede blood flow and delay healing.
- Compression
Wrapping the injured area with an elastic bandage helps reduce swelling and provides support. Make sure you don’t wrap the injured area too tight, as it can cut off blood circulation.
- Elevation
Keeping injured body parts above your heart level can also reduce swelling and help healing faster. You can place a pillow or something similar below the injured area to elevate it.
- Medications
If you’re experiencing pain, consider taking a pain reliever such as aspirin, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen. It’s important to note that acetaminophen is not a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, so it cannot stave off soreness.
It’s recommended not to apply heat on your injured areas as heat can increase blood circulation and worsen inflammation.
When to Seek Medical Attention?
Typically, sports injuries begin to heal within 3 days. But if your pain, swelling, and inflammation do not go away within 3 days, seek medical attention from a sports medicine doctor.
You must also seek medical attention if:
- Pain is interfering with your ability to move
- Swelling is not going away
- You have obvious deformities, such as bending of leg in the wrong direction
- You are unable to use your injured area
Sports medicine doctors use many methods to help you heal. These may include:
- Cortisone shots
- Immobilization
- Physiotherapy
- PRP therapy
- Surgery
Sports Medicine Physician in Austin, TX
No matter how hard you try to avoid them, sports injuries are common. If you need comprehensive care for your sports injuries, trust our sports medicine doctors at All-Star Orthopedics of Austin. We can give you the effective and compassionate care that you need to get back to doing your favorite activities faster.
Call our friendly staff at (512) 346-4933 or fill out our convenient appointment request form to book a consultation with the best sports medicine doctor in Austin.
