Managing and preventing injuries – Part 2

The way that an injury is managed in the first 24 hours (the acute phase) can have a huge affect on the injury healing successfully.

Immediately following the checklist that is included in Part 1 you should take the following steps to assist the body in healing:

Rest:

You should avoid all aggravating factors immediately after the injury.

Over the following days make a list of anything that makes the pain worse and try to avoid these things. It may also help to make a note of things (if any) that improve your pain. For example: your pain might be better after a hot shower or when waking in the morning.

Ice:

Ice should be applied periodically – 15 minutes on, 15 minutes off – for up to 48 hours post injury. When applying ice to an injured area always make sure your ice pack is properly covered with a piece of fabric or towel between the ice and your skin.

Compression:

Compression clothing or bandages may be applied to the area following an injury. This will help prevent blood pooling and swelling around the injured area.

Elevation:

The injured area should be elevated whenever possible. This doesn’t mean you have to walk around with the injured area in the air but you should keep the area ‘higher than your heart’ when sitting or sleeping.

These steps should be repeated up to 48 hours post injury, even if your pain has improved.

The next important step that many clients fail to do is to tell someone!

You should always inform your personal trainer or coach about any injury not matter how insignificant you may think it is. That way they can modify exercises to suit you and can pay extra attention to your technique during exercise.

In addition to this you should make an appointment with an experienced therapist who can assess the injury to make sure that the issue can be resolved and that it is not likely to reoccur.

A good therapist will be able to perform techniques to assist the body healing and also give you some strengthening and stretching activities to do at home to improve your recovery rate.

Your best defense against chronic or long-term injuries is taking action early. So, if in doubt always follow these guidelines.

To see the first part in this two-part series ‘preventing injuries’ please click here.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock.com

29 Comments

- - meedee said
  - 26 Apr 2022
    11:51 am
As we get older this sort of thing becomes more and more important.

- - mom81879 said
  - 14 Nov 2015
    8:39 am
This is great reading. Due to my arthritis, I am limited in the type and amount if physical activity I can do. But even I find sore bits sometimes. At the moment it’s heel, ankle and calf soreness in my right leg. I always tell my hubby and kids I am ‘always right!’ Lol

- - dannsbuild said
  - 15 Sep 2015
    7:27 pm
Very good! That’s interesting! Thanks for sharing this!

- - mom113055 said
  - 28 Jul 2015
    6:52 pm
just so good

- - christial said
  - 29 Jun 2015
    6:55 pm
Thanks for the reminders. The hubby is always injuring himself one we or another!

- - mom113055 said
  - 28 Jun 2015
    1:07 pm
it s good to read these things good

- - beenishmumtaz said
  - 24 Jun 2015
    3:22 am
thanks for this helping topic

- - crystalangela said
  - 23 Jun 2015
    10:39 pm
That is so true, we always forget to let people know when we are sore and then do things to aggravate the injury.

- - ella12 said
  - 23 Jun 2015
    2:53 pm
These are great tips. Thanks Caitlin.

- - rovermum said
  - 22 Jun 2015
    11:38 am
Thankfully my husband (as a footballer) has used and is well aware of R.I.C.E. As a result, my son and I are well versed on this process.

- - deb_gs said
  - 20 Jun 2015
    1:25 pm
The classic RICE is a treatment for sprains, good revision. Best point is to treat and investigate early.
- caitlinplummer replied
  
  22 Jun 2015 , 11:37 am
  Yes, it’s so important to treat early. Glad you enjoyed the article 🙂
- - Lov'n'Life said
  - 20 Jun 2015
    12:07 pm
thank you this is a great one for the side of the fridge
- caitlinplummer replied
  
  22 Jun 2015 , 11:37 am
  Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
- - aliceou said
  - 19 Jun 2015
    4:08 pm
Thank you for the helpful tips.
- caitlinplummer replied
  
  22 Jun 2015 , 11:38 am
  I’m glad you found it useful. Thanks!
- - cherz said
  - 18 Jun 2015
    9:18 pm
Great follow up Caitlin. thanx.
I always get confused when to use a ice pack or heat.
- caitlinplummer replied
  
  22 Jun 2015 , 11:40 am
  I’m glad you enjoyed it. As a rule of thumb after exercise and in the first 72hours always use ice. Heat may be used for chronic (pain that has lasted 7 days +) aches and pains. From my experience heat works best for neck and back pain.
- - curlytops said
  - 18 Jun 2015
    9:11 pm
great to have more tips.
- caitlinplummer replied
  
  22 Jun 2015 , 11:41 am
  Glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
- - mom74640 said
  - 18 Jun 2015
    11:38 am
Lke it
- caitlinplummer replied
  
  22 Jun 2015 , 11:41 am
  Glad you liked it!
- - Meghannn said
  - 18 Jun 2015
    9:39 am
Love this, I am always hurting myself 🙁
- caitlinplummer replied
  
  22 Jun 2015 , 11:42 am
  I’m glad you enjoyed this and sounds like it may come in handy! 🙂
- - Kell said
  - 18 Jun 2015
    8:38 am
A great follow up to part one .. thanks
- caitlinplummer replied
  
  22 Jun 2015 , 11:42 am
  Great to hear. I’m glad you liked it!
- - mom94125 said
  - 18 Jun 2015
    8:12 am
i think that rest is important. it would be hard for the gymmies to take that break though
- caitlinplummer replied
  
  22 Jun 2015 , 11:44 am
  Absolutely! Unfortunately rest is one of the hardest things to get across to people when they are injured but it certainly plays a huge part in recovery.
  - mom94125 replied
    
    27 Jun 2015 , 2:01 pm
    
    thank you for replying to me! It is great that you are reading these comments! i look forward to more articles from you!