Whether you are in the Northern or the Southern hemisphere, right now there will be hundreds of thousands of athletes, would-be athletes and get-fitters who will get it wrong in the exercise stakes. Either the warm up will not be long enough or will not have happened at all – the warm down will have been too abrupt or, simply, an injury will be experienced as the result of an unavoidable accident. Whatever sport or athletic activity you involve yourself in there are bound to be injuries.

SO WHAT?

All very commonplace, you say. True, but these days the treatments for sporting injuries have taken on a new persona. In days of yore when you twisted your ankle kicking a rugby or soccer ball around the pitch at the weekend, on rushed the coach or appointed medic (who may or may not have had any formal training in first-aid) to give the required attention to the injury. When the same thing happens today it’s a whole new ball game! Technology and training, together with advancements in knowledge of the causes and treatment of Sports Massage LondonΒ have progressed in leaps and bounds.

Also emerging from the dark ages of sports bumps is the awareness of just how useful natural health techniques can be. Coupled with orthodox views natural therapies are fast becoming an adjunct to the older methods – some of which have been dragging their hypothetical feet in the peat bogs of antiquity.

The number of injuries sustained whilst playing a sport of some description is almost incalculable. It runs from bruises, sprains and dislocations through to bone fractures, tendon, ligament and cartilage damage. The list of treatments is almost as long – massage, hydrotherapy, homoeopathy, acupressure and acupuncture…even aromatherapy.

Sport strengthens muscles, increases stamina, assists in the control of obesity and improves sleep patterns. However, it is common sense to practise it wisely and regularly, beginning in small doses and gradually working up to a full regimen of training. Used in any other way than this, sport or even just plain exercise can be painfully injurious. Let us take a look at some injuries and their treatments.

THE INJURIES

CARTILAGE

This type of injury normally affects the knee joint. Designed to move in only one plane, forward and back, the knee is sometimes compelled to move to one side or the other! Strained or even torn cartilage should receive immediate attention due to the fact that cartilage has a poor blood supply and is mostly incapable of repairing itself. Often surgery is the only remedy for damage to cartilage.

SPRAINS AND DISLOCATIONS

Injury to a ligament occurs when a joint is suddenly stretched beyond its normal range. This is commonly called a sprain and affects the fibres that hold the joint in its normal position. They tear causing pain and weakness of the affected joint. Swelling, bruising and tenderness at the point of injury is the result.

THE TREATMENTS

In the case of cartilage injury the immediate treatment is to apply an ice compress to the affected area. This is as much to alleviate the pain by numbing the damaged area as to help reduce the swelling. As previously mentioned, in serious cases of cartilage injuries it is as well to get the patient to hospital for an x-ray to assess the degree of damage as surgery may be needed. In certain cases massage at the joint may help, but this should be carried out by someone trained in sports injuries. To reduce shock and bruising try Arnica 30 as a natural healer – Arnica has been said to work wonders.

As for sprains and dislocations again, ice to reduce swelling. Arnica 30 may be used as soon as the injury is sustained and taken hourly for six hours. Massage is likely to help disperse swellings and prevent adhesions (the joining together of internal surfaces normally separate from one another). The area should be firmly strapped as soon as possible.

 

By Olivia

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