Obviously a serious trauma injury, such as a broken bone or ruptured ligaments, will require immediate medical attention, but most injuries are not so dramatic, and some can even respond simply to rest.
When you are injured, there is usually swelling, redness, pain and temperature rise. The inflammatory response is how the body tries to heal itself – it is an attempt to rid the body of blood (from torn tissue) and damaged cells.
Excessive swelling (edema) may interfere with the initial healing process, so important in the initial first aid treatment of sports injuries to help limit this swelling. Abbreviations good useful reminder:
To allow the healing process to proceed, should rest the injured area initially.
If you are a minor injury – no more than a little stiffness or soreness – may be that you just do a little too much and too fast and the affected area just needs rest.
However, there may be an underlying reason for the pain, extrinsic or intrinsic, and never pays to ignore the injury, especially when it may be very easy to find the cause.
Start with a sports physiotherapist if the problem appears to be associated with the sport, or you’ve been before, or with a doctor, who then may suggest you see one or more of various therapists. You can refer to:
Physiotherapy – this covers a group of well-established treatments or techniques, which often involves physical manipulation of the affected area. It is offered in hospitals, on the high street, in a doctor’s surgery, and often in gyms and sports centers. Physiotherapy is a very broad term and many physiotherapists who specialize in certain areas of the body, so you may need guidance in choosing the right therapist for you. Physiotherapy is available on the NHS, but these days you usually have to wait weeks and months. If you can decide to see the physic privately, you can refer yourself directly.
Podiatry – podiatrists specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders affecting the feet and lower legs. They can provide relief from painful symptoms and also preventive care for people with conditions that can affect the health of their feet. A podiatrist may prescribe and manufacture outhouses – specialist insoles that can address problems like probation by holding the foot in a stable position and to prevent rolling. Podiatry is rarely offered on the NHS, so you may have to pay to see a podiatrist in private.
Osteopathy – this is a complementary therapy that focuses on the muscular-skeletal problems. It is concentrated mainly on problems with muscles, joints and nerves and employs a variety of physical and manual techniques. In England he was considered a complementary therapy, so access to osteopathy on the NHS is limited, but some work with osteopathic physicians, and physicians are allowed to refer patients to them. You can also go to see them privately without referral.
Chiropractic – chiropractors use physical manipulation to treat problems with joints, bones and muscles, and their effects on the nervous system. Chiropractors place particular emphasis on the spine, which is why they tend to be associated with treating bad backs. Such as osteopathy, chiropractic is only available as an NHS treatment in some areas, depending on the policies of local primary care trust, or you can see them privately without referral.
If you go directly to the therapist outside the NHS, it is important to check them out a practitioner regulated, and anyone you see for treatment – on the NHS or not – need to have skills that are relevant to your specific problem, which is why it is best to find someone based on reliable recommendation or, best of all, GP referral.
