Now that school is back in full swing your kids are back on the field and are susceptible to experiencing a painful sports injury. Whether they are involved in cross country, football, soccer, or tennis, a sports injury can cause immediate and potentially chronic pain if not treated properly.
According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), the most common sports injuries are sprains and strains, knee injuries, swollen muscles, pain along the shin bone, fractures, dislocations, and Achilles tendon injuries. If you or your child experiences one of these injuries it is imperative to properly assess the injury and get immediate care from a physician. You should never neglect or ignore pain or other symptoms from a sports injury. Neglect, or worse, continuing to play or exercise despite your injury could cause it to get worse, affecting you for the rest of your life.
Though there are some injuries you can treat at home, it is always better to be safe than sorry. The NIAMS suggests seeing a doctor as soon as possible if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- The injury causes severe pain, swelling, or numbness
- You can’t put any weight on the area
- An old injury hurts or aches
- An old injury swells
- The joint doesn’t feel normal or feels unstable
If you do not have any of these symptoms, use the RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation) method to treat your injury immediately after it happens and for the 48 hours that follow. Proper treatment and care begin with being smart and knowing when to stay off of an injury. Your first few decisions after an injury can affect how you heal, so always play it safe and let Emergi-Care assess and treat your sports injury.
Emergi-Care is a fully licensed, freestanding critical care clinic in Houston, Texas, providing the NASA area community with a convenient alternative to overcrowded hospitals and urgent care centers by delivering fast, friendly, high-quality medical treatment in a comfortable neighborhood setting. For more information visit Emergi-Care’s website or Facebook page.