Sprain When ligaments (the fibrous tissue that connects bone to bone) are forced to stretch beyond their normal ROM – for example, hyperextension of the knee – the resulting tear is known as a sprain . Sprains may be characterized by pain, inflammation, and the inability of a joint to bear weight, align correctly, or move a limb below the site of the sprain. Strain Generally less severe than sprains, there are two types of strains. First, when the musculotendinous junction (the area where a muscle starts becoming tendon) is forced into a stretch beyond its normal ROM and suddenly or forcibly contracted, the resulting tear is known as an acute strain . Mild strains that build up over time from constant overuse or repetitive stress at a joint – for example, a tennis player continuously volleying with force – result in chronic strains . In general, strains may be characterized by pain, inflammation, muscle spasms, a reduction in strength, and a reduced ROM near the strain. An athlete working with a physician may have their sprain or strain categorized according to the severity of the injury. A mild, Grade I sprain or strain describes a minor over- stretching or tearing of a ligament or muscle. A moderate, Grade II sprain or strain describes a partially torn but still intact ligament or muscle and some degraded joint stability. A severe, Grade III sprain or strain indicates that there is a fully torn ligament or muscle and therefore, no joint stability. Massage therapists may work with the first two grades of sprains and strains once the acute phase of the injury has passed. They will not treat the third grade of sprains and strains, though, as only surgery can repair this level of injury. Of course, once surgery has been completed and an athlete’s rehabilitation phase begun, therapists may help an athlete recover by loosening the muscles, reducing the scar tissue, and increasing the blood flow around the injury. Fighting inflammation may also be aided by making changes to the athlete’s diet; foods and spices such as berries, garlic, oily fish, olive oil, dark leafy vegetables, nuts, peppers, and turmeric have all been shown to reduce inflammation in the body. R.I.C.E. This is an acronym for rest, ice, compression, and elevation. R.I.C.E. is the default treatment for the first 72 hours of an acute injury. ‘Rest’ means taking the time to recuperate, allowing time for healing thereby reducing the potential for aggravating the injury. ‘Ice’ means applying ice or a cooling pack to the injury site for at least 10 minutes but no more than 20 minutes to fight inflammation and reduce pain. ‘Compression’ means wrapping an injury site to reduce swelling and for stabilizing injured joints. ‘Elevation’ means preventing the pooling of blood at the injury site by raising the injured area slightly above the head. R.I.C.E. is the immediate although general response to almost all sports injuries. Note: An injured athlete should not be given non- steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) immediately following an injury, as NSAIDs thin the blood and may inhibit the blood clotting that is often a necessary part of the healing process. Tendonitis This injury refers to the inflammation of a tendon , the connective tissue that attaches muscle to bone. It is characterized by chronic pain, inflammation (occasionally), and muscular weakness. Therapists may massage on a tendon that has been inflamed provided they have first reduced the inflammation with ice or a cold pack.
or physical therapist. Hernias are usually corrected with surgery, or in the case of a sports hernia (in which a muscle, commonly the adductor magnus, ruptures at the pubis/ pubic tubercle), under the guidance of a physical therapist. Inflammation The often painful redness and puffiness of skin and joints can have a variety of causes, as inflammation is one of the body’s first lines of defense against pathogens and disease. When it comes to athletes, though, inflammation usually results from blunt force trauma, or a muscle, tendon, or ligament tear. In this case, inflammation is the body’s attempt to remove damaged tissue. This attempt to remove damaged tissue is more specifically referred to as acute inflammation , where the body’s response to a physical blow sees plasma and white blood cells pool in the injury site. On occasion, this type of inflammation lasts longer than it should and leads to chronic inflammation in which healthy tissue is destroyed alongside damaged tissue, prolonging or halting the rehabilitation process. In general, inflammation can be treated with icing the site of inflammation for up to 20 minutes at a time and/or compressing the site of inflammation with a sports wrap to reduce blood flow in the area. Kinesio tape
More generally known as elastic therapeutic tap e, Kinesio Tape became very popular among athletes after its exposure during the 2008 Summer Olympics when it was worn by beach volleyball player Kerri Walsh.
Although only recently popular, Kinesio Tape was invented over two decades ago as a replacement for sports wraps. Kinesio Tape not only physically supports muscles during activity, it also lifts the skin away from muscle tissue so that blood and other bodily fluids can move more freely thereby speeding recovery. When applied properly, Kinesio Tape can allegedly improve ROM, improve strength, and reduce pain and inflammation. The tape is sweat-proof and water- resistant and will stay applied for three to five days making it a popular alternative to sports wrapping. Muscle tear Similar to contusions, this phrase means exactly what it suggests, a tear or tears of the muscle fibers due to overexertion, being overstretched, or physical impact. Muscle tears may be minor, damaging only small blood vessels, or major, separating a muscle and its tendon from its origin or insertion. (Major muscle tears require surgery to repair.) Muscle tears are characterized by pain even when the muscle is resting, and bruising, redness, swelling, and weakness of the affected muscle. R.I.C.E. (see below) is the immediate response for muscle tears. Therapists should avoid deep tissue massage for muscle tears for 48 hours after the injury occurs or until the injury site is no longer painful to touch and any swelling has subsided. Myositis ossificans This condition is particular to young athletes who have not yet completed puberty. In some instances, young athletes who suffer contusions or muscle tears may have their bodies repair damaged muscle tissue with bone tissue instead. Myositis ossificans may be indicated by a hard lump in a muscle. This condition can be very painful and severely limits a muscle’s strength and ability to stretch. Preliminary studies indicate that the application of massage therapy will worsen this condition. Therefore, massage is contraindicated without the approval of a physician.
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Book Code: MIL1224
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