How to Recover From a Sports Injury

Photo of author

(Newswire.net — November 19, 2021) —

Indulging in sports is great for a lot of reasons. Sports can keep you in good physical health, are a healthy pass time, and to some, a sport can be an income earner. 

However, despite the benefits, your favorite sport can cause injuries from time to time. These can be painful, uncomfortable, or keep you from doing what you love and enjoy doing. So naturally, you want to manage your injury as quickly as possible and go back to life as you know it. 

Some sports injuries can be treated at home, while some will require you to see an orthopedic surgeon in Montreal. Here is more on how to go about sports injuries. 

The RICE Method

This method is used for managing soft tissue injuries. Administered correctly, it helps minimize the pain and inflammation that results from a fresh soft tissue injury. 

The mnemonic “RICE” stands for: Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. 

Rest

After an injury, stop what you are doing and take some rest for the next two days. This avoids putting pressure or making movements that can worsen the injury. 

Ice

Apply an ice pack on the injured area every 3 hours on the first 24 to 48 hours of getting an injury. This helps reduce pain and swelling. 

Compression

Wrap the affected area snuggly but not tightly with an elastic medical bandage. This helps minimize swelling. 

Elevation

Raise the injured body part above your heart and keep it raised. This reduces throbbing, pain, and swelling. 

See a Doctor

If what you have is not a mere soft tissue injury, you need to see a doctor. Injuries like fractures and dislocations will not get better without proper treatment. However, if you take too long to get the proper care, the injured bones may heal badly, which causes additional problems.

While not as serious as fractures and dislocations, sprains require medical attention as well. 

A clinical examination can help you understand the extent of the injury and get the necessary treatment. In addition, your physician can advise on whether they can manage the injury or give you a referral to a specialist, like an orthopedic surgeon.  

Consider Taking Foods and Supplements That Aid Healing

There are several classes of supplements and foods that are known to aid with healing after an injury. These include:

Proteins

Foods like fish and meat help the body rebuild its muscles and prevent muscle wasting that results from long-term injury recovery periods. 

Vitamin-C

Dark leafy greens are rich in Vitamin C. So are citrus fruits. Vitamin C helps the body produce collagen, which rebuilds tissue. This vitamin also has anti-inflammatory properties. 

Omega-3-Fats

You can get Omega-3 fats from natural foods and supplements. Natural foods rich in Omega-3 include chia seeds, salmons, sardines, soybeans, and walnuts. 

Omega-3 minimizes inflammation and speeds up the recovery process.