How well you recover from an injury depends upon how well you look after it!
What should I do if I get injured?
If the injury is extremely painful or swells quickly, it might be worth
a visit to the A & E department of the nearest hospital, in case you
have dislocated or fractured something and need a plaster cast. Simple,
less severe injuries may recover with rest and ice treatment Most injuries
benefit from the early application of ice packs (frozen peas will do!).
This helps to limit swelling and bruising and so allow quicker recovery.
- Apply ice for up to 10 minutes every 1-2 hours for the first two days.
The injured area then needs rest, to allow healing to start, followed by
exercises to promote full recovery. You may need to ask for advice from
an expert or fellow sufferer as to the best way to exercise and when you
can resume activity.
What sort of injuries can be treated?
Different sports are inclined to cause different injuries. E.g. Skiers
often suffer with haematomas (deep bruising) and groin strains. Footballers
commonly suffer from ligament damage to the ankles, knee problems involving
the ligaments or cartilages, and torn hamstring muscles. Aerobic dancers
are prone to foot injury, shin splints and chronic calf problems. Racquet
sport players and "geriatric" runners are liable to suffer from
achilles or calf tears. All conditions benefit from good advice, but some
are best not treated immediately.
Who should I see for advice?
If recovery is slow, or the condition recurs, you could visit your GP for advice or one of the osteopaths or remedial masseurs here at the practice. An Osteopath? - Yes, I know, you thought osteopaths only dealt with spinal injuries. Well we do have specialised knowledge in this area and spend a lot of our time treating low back and neck problems. But some of us have a particular interest in athletic injuries, (we've suffered most of them!), and enjoy treating sportsmen and women.
Sometimes, one visit can be sufficient to assess, treat, and give enough advice to get you better. If you require several treatments we will, if possible, pass you on to one of our remedial masseurs after the initial visit to reduce the overall cost.
What will treatment consist of?
The initial aim of treatment is to reduce swelling and inflammation in the area. In the early stages this may require compression bandaging, but older fluid is best dispersed with massage treatments. Your recovery time can also be reduced by the use of various electrotherapy equipment, such as ultrasound or pulsed shortwave etc. However, the most important treatment is the correct advice, and this will include exercises specific to your condition. The exercises necessary to promote recovery may be different for each activity and will change as you recover.
If you phone the Broadwater Practice with a back or neck problem, any of the Osteopaths or Massage Therapists here will be pleased to see you, but if you have a sports injury, ask the receptionist for advice regarding who to see.
Costs: £35 for each appointment with an osteopath (We try to reduce the costs of treatment where repeated electrotherapy treatments are required and may sometimes pass you on to one of the remedial massage therapists after we have diagnosed the problem).