When to Consider Sports Injury Rehab Treatment Options

The risk of injury during sports is present regardless of your skill level. Professional athletes and weekend warriors alike can pull a hamstring or sprain an ankle and wind up seeking sports injury rehab. But the risk of injury does not prevent us from playing or enjoying sports, nor should it. Back in Motion Physical Therapy can offer some insight into how to treat minor injuries as well as what symptoms to look out for to consider sports injury rehab.

The RICE method

Fortunately, a great deal of sports injuries are not severe enough to warrant immediate medical attention. Most sports injuries can be treated with a four-step treatment plan often shortened to the acronym RICE.

• Rest — When a sports injury occurs, do not try and tough it out and play through the pain. This can make the original injury worse and lengthen recovery time. First and foremost, rest the injured body part.
• Ice — For many muscle strains or sprains, ice is a great treatment to reduce inflammation. Ice should be used as often as possible in the first 48 hours after an injury in 15-20 minute intervals.
• Compression — Using an ace bandage or wrap can be helpful for sprained joints. Compression helps improve oxygenation and promote increased blood flow to speed up the healing process
• Elevation — The injured body part should be elevated above the level of the heart. This helps by draining fluid from the affected area and reduce swelling.

Following the RICE method will help keep you from having to seek sports injury rehab in many minor cases of injury.

When to seek immediate treatment

In almost any case, you should not try to play through a sports injury as you risk making the injury worse. However, if you experience any of the following symptoms after an injury, seek immediate treatment:

• Inability to bear any weight on the body part
• Visible deformity in the joint or area
• Tingling, weakness or numbness in the area
• Pain severe enough to limit daily activity

Fortunately, sports injury rehab can generally help athletes make a full recovery from even acute traumatic injury.

If you have recently suffered an acute injury and are considering sports injury rehab treatment options, contact one of the friendly staff at Back in Motion Physical Therapy to set up your free consultation today.