Sports injuries are common among all levels of athletes, from rec league to pro sports. There are two main types of sports injuries — acute and chronic.
Acute sports injuries, such as sprains, fractures, and dislocations, happen quickly and are relatively easy to treat. On the other hand, chronic injuries happen due to overuse over time and typically require a more intensive treatment plan.
Learn how to identify and treat acute sports injuries.
Acute Sports Injuries Symptoms
Acute injuries can happen anywhere on the body, including the head, back, and abdomen. But they are most common at the various joints found in the arms and legs and are accompanied by:
- Significant, persistent pain
- Loss of strength or mobility in the affected area
- Extreme swelling or bruising
Acute sports injuries can be as mild as a pulled muscle or as severe as a broken bone.
4 Treatments for Acute Sports Injuries
Treating acute sports injuries is crucial to promote healing, reduce pain, and prevent further damage. Oftentimes, the best treatment for acute sports injuries may be a combination of a few different treatments. Learn about four of these options for acute sports injuries you can use in conjunction with one another.
1. Rest and Ice
Whether you’re tending to a pulled hamstring or a dislocated shoulder, the first step is to immediately stop whatever activity caused the injury, apply ice, and rest. Apply ice packs for 20 minutes at a time to help fight swelling, inflammation, and pain.
2. Compress and Elevate
To further relieve swelling, apply a snug compression bandage and elevate the injured limb. Compression bandages should be removed at night and reapplied during the day. It’s important to try to elevate the injured area above your heart to slow down blood flow to the area and reduce swelling.
3. Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
Over the counter NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen and naproxen, are a good way to combat inflammation and manage the pain from an acute sports injury. NSAIDs are particularly effective when used in conjunction with other treatments.
4. Regenerative Medicine
Another potential treatment for acute sports injuries is regenerative medicine, also known as stem cell therapy. Stem cells are cells that have the ability to differentiate into various types of cells in the body and can help repair damaged tissues.
In the case of acute sports injuries, stem cell therapy involves injecting stem cells directly into the injured area to promote tissue regeneration and healing. This can help accelerate the healing process and reduce pain and inflammation.
Can You Speed Up Sports Injury Recovery?
It is possible to encourage quicker healing by using multiple treatment methods, but there is no guaranteed way to recover after an injury quickly.
Depending on the severity of the injury, it may take anywhere from a few days to a few months to fully heal after an acute sports injury. But it’s important not to rush the recovery process. Otherwise, you risk worsening the original injury.
This post was written by a medical professional at https://www.stemedix.com. At Stemedix we provide access to Regenerative Medicine. Regenerative medicine has the natural potential to help improve symptoms sometimes lost from the progression of many conditions.