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Sports injuries may happen because of various reasons. They include inadequate warm-up, overexertion, overuse, and improper use of equipment or sporting gear. Some of the most common injuries are sprains and strains, tendonitis, dislocations, and fractures.

No matter how mild or severe your injuries are, urgent treatment is essential to minimize damage and relieve pain. Plus, it will also prevent any further complications. Read on to learn about some treatments for sports injuries.

RICE Method

This is a common treatment for minor sports injuries that is done for the first 24 to 48 hours. The RICE method has four elements, namely: rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Doing these helps relieve pain and promote proper healing and recovery. Here’s what you should do:

• Rest – Avoid using the injured area or doing activities that put too much force on them. Besides causing discomfort, it may also slow down the healing process and worsen the injury.
• Ice – It helps reduce pain and swelling. Apply an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas on the affected area for 10-20 minutes, two to three times a day.
• Compression – Using compression bandages helps provide support and reduce swelling. Ensure that the bandages are wrapped snugly but not too tight to allow proper blood circulation.
• Elevation – You can further ease pain by elevating the injury as much as possible. Do this by propping the injured area with a pillow and keeping it at a level above the heart.

Immobilization Treatment

Another sports injury treatment is immobilization. It involves stabilizing the injury using casts, splints, slings, or braces to prevent it from worsening. Besides protecting the affected area, these medical devices also ease discomfort and swelling.

Physiotherapy 

Depending on your injury, your doctor may also suggest physiotherapy. This treatment uses methods such as exercises, massages, and manual manipulation. They will help regain comfortable movement of joints and muscles and strengthen the surrounding muscles of the injured area.

Contact Thomas Podiatry & Associates

If you exercise or play sports regularly, learning about some treatments for injuries may be helpful. Despite that, if you experience severe pain or notice any obvious deformity from the affected area, call a sports injury doctor right away. Reach out to us at Thomas Podiatry & Associates in Salisbury, MD today to learn more about sports medicine.