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Hot on the heals of the Commonwealth Games in Manchester we have seen another successful completion of what is now the world-famous Sydney City to Surf long-distance run.
It is a fun run for some; for others, a seriously competitive race. And, as with all sporting events, there are more than one or two injuries along the way. These days even rugby referees are not immune to the occasional dislocated shoulder.
Surprisingly, however, despite the frequency with which elite athletes participate in their chosen sport, and the effort and enthusiasm they put into it, injuries at the very top level of sport are comparatively few in number.
It is all because of good preparation. Preventing injuries means wearing the right footwear and clothing, warming up before strenuous exercise and cooling down afterwards.
Of course, when injuries do occur, effective treatment is essential for a speedy return to the sports field.
A large number of products is now available to treat the aches and pains and the after-effects of sports injuries. To a large extent, successful treatment will depend on carefully selecting the right product and then using it correctly.
Understanding how and why sports injuries occur is also essential. Direct contact with a goalpost, hockey stick or the fist of a front-row forward can be an obvious, but not always avoidable, cause.
Nevertheless, the most common so-called 'soft tissue injuries' which involve the muscles, tendons and ligaments are often preventable. When they do occur, early and appropriate treatment can lead to a quick recovery.
Commonly the symptoms of these injuries are pain, tenderness and swelling. The best way to prevent and treat these symptoms is clearly spelt out on the Sprains and Strains Fact Card that is available from all pharmacies around Australia providing the Self Care health information.
Muscles allow the body to move. A strain occurs when muscle fibres are pulled apart, causing swelling and pain. A 'contusion' describes damage to blood vessels in a muscle that gives rise to bleeding, clotting and bruising. Tendons join muscles to bone and ligaments join bones together to hold joints in place. Tendons can strain or tear when over-stretched, resulting in tendonitis, and ligament sprain occurs when the ligament is stretched or torn by a joint being wrenched to twisted.
When soft tissue injury does occur, whether on the athlete's track, on the football field, or simply in the backyard, the first type of treatment used is of critical importance. If you want to get back to the game quickly, there are a few things to avoid in the first 48 hours: do not use heat or massage, do not drink alcohol and do not exercise. These things can increase swelling and bleeding and aggravate the injury.
Remember the acronym R.I.C.E. for first aid. Rest and support the injured area. Use Ice to reduce pain and bleeding. Wrap the injured area with a Compression bandage and Elevate the injured part to help relieve the swelling. Of course, for ongoing care and advice you may need to see your doctor or physiotherapist.
Some medicines can be helpful, such as anti-inflammatory pain relievers like Nurofen or the anti-inflammatory gels like Voltaren and Feldene.
Heat rubs have a place, but more in preventing sports injuries than treating them. Preparations like Metsal are excellent to aid in the warm-up procedure and offer some pain relief to old sports injuries that still give the occasional twinge. |
