If you’re an athlete, you understand the risks of ending up with an injury that takes you off the field or court, sometimes even ending your season or career.
However, while they can be devastating, there are ways to treat your sports injuries that will have you back on your feet in no time. From simple things like wearing protective gear and resting to massage therapy, these five treatments from our physiotherapists at Preston will help speed your recovery and get you back into the game as soon as possible.
1. Rest
Resting is one of the most important things you can do immediately after dealing with a sports injury. The injured area is still vulnerable, so it’s important to let it rest for a while; otherwise, you could end up damaging the tissues.
2. Ice It
After you’re well rested, the first thing to do is reduce the inflammation of the area. The best way to do this is by applying an ice pack to the injured area for 20 minutes, three times a day. This reduces the swelling and irritation that can lead to other injuries.
While this may seem like a small thing, it can make all the difference when it comes to recovery.
3. Compression
After the inflammation has reduced, you need to firmly cover up the injury with a bandage. This may be able to prevent fluid buildup and consequently minimize swelling.
Your bandage won’t immobilize the injured area, but it should be able to hold it together for some time. If your bandage cause discomfort, you can loosen it up accordingly.
4. Elevation
Elevating the injured area above your heart level will push the fluid buildup away from the injury and reduce the swelling. If you can’t bring the injured area above your heart level, then at least try to keep it on the same level.
If you’ve injured your hips or buttocks, you can lie on your back with a few pillows wedged beneath your hips to bring it to a higher level.
5. Go For A Massage Therapy
After your injury has healed enough but still feels sore in the area and pain medication doesn’t seem to help, you can try massage therapy as an alternative remedy.
Massage therapists can help reduce the soreness and stiffness in the muscle with deep yet gentle strokes. They can also help restore movement and offer relaxation so you can focus on getting better instead of the fear and anxiety of your injury.
Visit Our Physiotherapy Clinic In Lancashire
At 5 STAR CLINIC LTD, we offer several services that may be able to help you with pain management. These services include hypnotherapy, massage therapy, physiotherapy, acupuncture, and ankle sprain treatment.
We also offer to help you quit smoking with our online hypnosis sessions.
Contact us today to learn more about our services.