Hello Everyone. Today’s article is a guest post.
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Getting stuck into sports can be great for your health. However, these activities aren’t without their risks and whenever you exert yourself, there is a chance you will sustain physical damage of some sort.
The most common types of injury are relatively minor and include things like cuts, grazes, bruises and blisters. However, in some cases the damage is more serious. For example, it’s possible to suffer pain and swelling to the muscles, bones, ligaments, tendons, joints and cartilage.
The Causes
The causes of sports injuries vary. In some cases, they happen because of accidents such as collisions and falls. However, other examples are more predictable and therefore more easily avoided. For example, failing to warm up properly before the activities is a risk factor, as is using inadequate equipment or poor technique.
Simply pushing yourself too hard can also dramatically increase the risk that you will sustain physical damage.
What To Do
To minimise the ill-effects of any sports injury, it’s important to respond appropriately when they happen. For example, when you feel pain, stop exercising as this will help to prevent further damage and to speed up your recovery time.
Minor injuries like cuts can often be treated at home. Simply rest the affected body part and you can use over-the-counter painkillers to relieve your discomfort. For mild strains or sprains, you can also use the so-called PRICE technique. This refers to:
- Protection – protecting the affected area, for example by using supports
- Rest – avoiding exercise and reducing physical activity
- Ice – applying an ice pack to the injury for ten to 30 minutes (these packs should be wrapped in a towel to prevent them from causing ice burn)
- Compression – using elastic compression bandages to limit swelling
- Elevation – keeping injured limbs above the level of the heart
However, more serious cases, such as broken bones, damaged cartilage or torn ligaments, will need specialist medical advice and treatment.
Physiotherapy & Massage
Depending on your particular circumstances, you might benefit from physiotherapy treatments. These rely on manipulation and special exercises to help improve the range of motion in the injured area.
Massage is another treatment option. It is thought that these techniques can speed up the recovery process by encouraging the flow of blood into the affected body part and by increasing flexibility. These sessions can also help to reduce your stress levels and make you feel more relaxed.
Treatment At Home
It is now easy to make the most of massage treatments. As well seeking assistance from professionals, you can take advantage of special reclining massage chairs and beds that are designed to provide relief from a variety of aches and pains. For example, the products offered by Adjustamatic have an in-built Cyclo-Therapy system that helps to treat general muscle pain and joint stiffness, as well as more serious conditions such as spinal problems and arthritis.
Having access to these items within your own home can make recovering from sports injuries easier and quicker, helping to ensure you’re able to keep doing the activities you enjoy.