Injuries happen – and they often happen when you least expect it. Know how to minimize your risk of a secondary injury and stay as good as new!
Sometimes your loved ones will be less than cautious when it comes to their joint and physical health, causing them to do things that can actually make their injuries worse! Here are some tips on how to protect your loved ones before more serious injuries occur:
The troubling activities that can cause secondary injuries
1. Sporting events- Competitive activities such as football, rugby, and martial arts or even friendly matches of tennis or pickleball are associated with an increased risk of injury because they require athletes to exert more energy than in less competitive sports.
2. Weightlifting- Weightlifters who fail to learn the right technique can cause serious injuries to their joints, muscles, or nerves.
3. Stair-climbing- The most common cause of stair-related injuries is falling, but other possible causes include slips, trips, and twists.
How to prevent secondary injuries?
If you’ve suffered from a joint injury, it’s important to take immediate action to avoid any secondary injuries. Secondary injuries can occur when the injured area is not treated properly to cause inflammation and swelling. As a result, you may experience pain and stiffness around the injured area. Secondary injuries can also lead to additional surgeries, chronic pain, and even disability. Learn how to prevent secondary injuries from occurring:
1. Get prompt medical attention after sustaining a joint injury. Immobilize the injured area as much as possible and transport them to a hospital as quickly as possible.
2. Place ice on the injured area for 10-15 minutes every 2-3 hours until you arrive at the hospital. Ice can reduce inflammation and swelling and help speed up the healing process.
3. Elevate the injured area to reduce pressure on the surrounding tissues. This will also help with the drainage of fluids and blood from the area.
4. Take ibuprofen or acetaminophen (Tylenol) for pain relief. Do not take these medications if you have a fever or infection. Please check with your doctor before taking any medications.
5. Avoid using unnecessarily strong pain medications that can slow down your healing process by causing vasodilation or constriction.
6. Don’t use alcohol to numb the area, and don’t leave the ice on the swollen area for too long as it can lead to frostbite.
7. Avoid applying pressure over the area (tight compression). This will lead to damage to surrounding tissues and may increase the risk of nerve injuries. Instead, perfect compression braces can help you deal with joint constraints.
8. Encase swelling areas with plastic wrap to reduce edema (swelling) due to fluid collection under the skin surface.
By following these simple steps, you should be able to minimize the amount of pain, swelling, and stiffness that come about with a joint injury. Make sure to read through the entire article so that you know what steps to take in order to avoid further damage!