When it comes to spring sports injuries, think R-I-C-E
Health Watch by Steve Mullenix
The North Jefferson News
It’s that time of year again — as I drive around in the late evening, I see the horizon illuminated with those softball field lights.
It’s little league baseball time, and time for those minor sprains, strains and abrasions. Regardless of how good these activities are for America’s youth, they are not without risk. According to statistics from the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), children ages 5 through 14 sustained in excess of 2.38 million sports and recreational injuries last year.
While the majority of these were minor, some can result in serious conditions and even lifelong recurring medical problems.
Sports injuries refer to the kinds of injuries that occur during sports or exercise. While it is possible to cause injury to any port of the body, the term “sports injuries” is most commonly used to refer to musculoskeletal system injuries.
• Sprains: tears to a ligament that joins the ends of bones together. (Ankle, knee and wrist are most common)
• Strains: Pulls or tears of muscles tendons (the tissues that attach the muscle to the bones)
• Fractures: An actual crack or break in the bone
• Dislocation of joints: A misalignment of a joint
Because there is a focus on specific sports at younger ages more than ever, kids are now suffering from sports related injuries previously only seen in adults.
Acute injuries usually occur suddenly while participating in sports or exercise. They may result in sudden and severe pain and the inability to support weight or move a limb.
Chronic injuries result from overuse of one area of the body over a period of time. Symptoms normally include soreness, dull aching pain, and pain with activity.
No matter what sport, every child athlete can help prevent injuries with a regimen of stretching to maintain flexibility, proper nutrition, regular physician exams and light supervised training. However, regardless of how you well you prepare, your child may still incur a sports related injury. The area may begin to swell and become inflamed. What do you do?
Think RICE
The swelling and much of the inflammation that follows an injury is largely due to leakage of blood from ruptured capillaries. Therefore, cold applications of ice can help by causing the blood vessels to constrict. The constriction prevents further leakage of blood and serum and minimizes swelling and pain.
• Rest: Minimize movement of the injured body part.
• Ice: Apply a cold pack.
• Compression: A light pressure wrap to the affected body part can help minimize leakage of blood and swelling.
• Elevation: Raise the body part to reduce pressure from blood and tissue swelling in the affected area. The fluids drain from the area by gravity.
Ice and cold packs are usually most effective on fresh injuries, since they reduce the swelling and pain associated with the injury. Cold or ice packs should be applied several times a day for up to 15 minutes at a time.
If you’re using ice, never apply it directly to the skin. Ice packs should be covered with a towel or cloth before application.
Heat therapy, is most often recommended for chronic, long term ailments including muscle tightness and tension. Like cold therapy, heat therapy should be applied not longer than 15 minutes at a time, several times a day.
After four or five days following a traumatic injury, heat therapy may actually help the healing process by increasing blood flow to the affected area. If you are using an electric heating pad, take extra caution that you don’t fall asleep on the pad, since this can lead to serious injury.
It is important to remember that home care is not a substitute for care provided by your physician. In the case of serious injury, always seek immediate appropriate medical care from your physician or an emergency medical facility. You should also call a health professional if you experience severe pain, swelling, numbness, joint instability, the inability to bear weight on a limb or other symptoms which you consider alarming.
Keeping in mind these simple thoughts can help assure a safe, and exciting softball season, and maybe even keep them playing till the finals.
Good luck.
Steve Mullenix (R.Ph) co-owns The Pharmacy in Mount Olive with his wife, Sherry Mullenix (J.D., R.N.). They can be reached at 631-1201.