When exercise among Americans seems to be at an all-time low, those who take the time to work out have reason to feel like they are doing their duty as community members. Unfortunately, when otherwise healthy and productive community member damages themselves while exercising, they typically feel like giving up. We understand how easy it is to feel sad and angry when you can't work out as much as you want, especially when you love running, swimming, or walking. But don't fall into the "Why me?" trap!
Take care of what your doctor recommends - even if it makes you angry that this little rush of wind from the barre damaged a tendon which will have you in tears on the bench for weeks! But, if you follow these steps closely, we know that soon enough, you'll be back in tip-top shape again - and no one will be able to tell that just last week, you were sobbing on the mat because ballet class made your foot swell!
RICE It
Sports injuries are a common occurrence in the world of athletics. The proper way to treat an injury when it occurs is by following the acronym "RICE," which stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Rest does not mean a nap - you must stop doing whatever led to the injury as soon as possible. As soon as possible, apply a cold sack wrapped in a thin towel for 20 minutes; continue icing the injured area for 20-minute periods over two days. At the same time, you want to put some gentle pressure on the area (that's the compression part), perhaps using a wraparound elastic bandage from your local drugstore. If necessary, you can also speak to your doctor/pharmacist about what medication or pills are available to help prevent pain and inflammation.
It may sound like many steps to take in terms of treatment, but if you take it one step at a time and remind yourself that you're already beginning your recovery, you'll see nothing to worry about. One convenience a person who does regular exercise can have on hand is the common ice pack which attaches to your elbow or knee with Velcro and can help speed up the process. And best of all - this convenience is available virtually anywhere!
Heat & Cold Therapy
Cold Therapy
Compression and cold therapy can help relieve pain and speed up healing in injured areas.
After an injury, the body's inflammation response protects surrounding tissues from further harm. Uncontrolled inflammation can cause discomfort and delay healing. Compression can prevent fluid accumulation (edema), while cold therapy slows cellular metabolism.15,16
Cold therapy can be applied in several ways. The most popular method is applying an cold therapy pack to the affected area for specific periods, then covering it with bandages of static compression between cold therapy sessions. Other ways of applying Cold include whole-body cryotherapy rooms, cold baths, or equipment designed specifically for this purpose.
Using Cold Therapy
Cold therapy is one of the three components of R.I.C.E (rest, compression, ice, elevation). This home remedy has become widely recommended to treat injuries caused by sports at home.
Cold therapy can be an effective option to relieve pain when treating:
- Runner's knee
- Lower back pain
- Pain or swelling under a cast or a splint
- Tendonitis
- Sprains
- Pain and swelling after a hip or knee replacement
- Arthritis pain
Applying Cold Pack:
- Lowers your skin temperature.
- Reduces nerve activity.
- Reduces pain and swelling.
Experts believe cold therapy may reduce swelling, closely connected to pain. It also lessens sensitivity to sensations of discomfort. As a result, cold therapy is especially useful when managing swelling and discomfort around a tendon or joint.
How to Apply Cold Therapy
Applying Cold pack or frozen objects directly on the skin can cause pain and damage. To protect yourself from direct Cold, wrap the object with a cloth, especially if using freezing gel pads. It helps ensure no harm to your skin when using this therapy.
Apply the gel or cold pack for 10-20 minutes, several times daily. Check your skin regularly to feel discomfort during cold treatment; this will guarantee that you don't damage tissues.
Cold therapy and other strategies, when used together to manage pain:
Rest. Give yourself a break from any tasks or activities that cause pain.
Compression. Applying pressure to the area helps reduce discomfort and swelling while stabilizing it, so you do not injure yourself.
Elevation. Place your feet on the floor or lift any body part experiencing discomfort.
Pain medication. Over-the-counter medications can provide temporary comfort during times of distress.
Rehabilitation Exercises. Depending on where the injury is likely to be located, your doctor may suggest that you perform strengthening and stretching exercises that help strengthen and stretch out the affected area for maximum healing benefits.
Do not apply cold pack if it feels uncomfortable on your skin when applied. If cold therapy is not helping relieve pain, consult with your doctor. Furthermore, those suffering from certain medical conditions like diabetes should avoid cold therapy since these affect how well tissues respond to damage.
How to Heal Through Heat Therapy
Once you notice the swelling has gone down, it is time to apply moist Heat. You can use a microwavable heating pad with a sponge-like insert to do this. However, one can alternatively use a wet washcloth for this as well. By increasing circulation to the area, you have reached a point in the healing process where the body will repair itself faster.
Accidents happen, especially when "being active" is your goal. To ensure that your body heals quickly and correctly after an injury, selecting the appropriate therapy and treatments is essential. However, with so much available information, knowing which course of action to take for maximum recovery time can be challenging. This article focuses on the advantages of heating therapy specifically.
Understanding when to apply Heat to an injury is critical for successful healing. A common misconception is that simply because something feels nice doesn't guarantee to heal of the area that has been injured. While heat therapy may temporarily feel nice, incorrect use can exacerbate symptoms and delay recovery. To determine which treatment or therapy is most suitable for you and how best to apply it, consult a Physical Therapy doctor who can guide you through recovery steps with specific directions.
HEAT THERAPY MAY BE A GREAT CHOICE IN THESE SITUATIONS:
- Increase Your Range of Motion in an Area
- Facilitate Tension and Stiffness in Joints, Tissues, and Muscles
- Promote Blood Circulation in Injured Areas
- This can help extend the range of motion for injured areas by improving circulation to injured zones.
Types of Heat Therapy:
Not all heat therapies are equal regarding application, duration, and effects. Therefore, you should select one specific for your injury to maximize its recovery potential and minimize damage to joints and other tissues.
Dry Heat Therapy (Conductive Heat): This superficial therapy involves applying Heat directly onto the injured area with gel packs, heating pads, and saunas. However, one disadvantage of Dry heat therapy is that it dehydrates your skin by removing moisture.
Moist Heat Therapy (Convective Heat): This treatment involves submerging the injured part in a fluid that will then be heated. Examples include hot air baths, fluid therapy, and the whirlpool.
Alternative Heat Therapy: This therapy uses various methods to warm an injured area. Naturopathic heat therapies may include applying peloids (peat made from bogs packed in bags), hay bags, and mustard bags.
How to Apply Heat Therapy?
For effective pain relief, sufficient time must be allowed for the Heat to penetrate deeply into muscles. Generally, the longer the SacksyThyme's Hot therapy relief heating pad is applied, the more relaxed your muscles feel. The exact duration will depend on the injury; usually, 15-20 minutes is enough for minor back pain, while longer sessions of up to 30 minutes might be recommended for severe or chronic acute or chronic agony. It is not advised to rest while using a heating pad.
Heat therapy can be divided into two distinct categories
Dry heat therapy: products and services are popular due to their reliable temperatures, ease of use, portability, and convenience.
Moist heat therapy: products and services are usually preferred for penetrating deeper into muscle tissues and increasing blood flow more effectively than dry Heat alone.
Selecting the ideal heat therapy is usually a personal decision. Moist Heat may be more efficient for individuals with body fat levels above 25% of total body mass. Testing various options and using trial-and-error methodology could help determine which item or service will benefit most.
Try Gentle Stretching
You must be careful when testing your range of motion in the injured area. Ask your doctor, a physical therapist, or a professional fitness trainer that you trust to recommend simple stretches and moves for you, and do them slowly. Never go to the point of pain. Apply moist Heat if the area feels stiff before you try anything.
You've probably been cautioned to take it easy and let an injury heal before putting too much strain on it. However, you're advised to return to normal activities once the pain has diminished. One study found that people who spent a week or more resting after an ankle sprain had more pain and a higher re-injury rate than those who were up and moving sooner. So keep on doing gentle movements that feel comfortable.
You might be tempted to start running straight away or to spend all your free time pounding on physical equipment. But, when treating tendonitis, research shows that the best treatment strategy involves movement with as little pain as possible and a gradual increase in activity over time. Try exercising more each day rather than doing more than you can handle. If you're hesitant, try doing it for five minutes and gradually expand. Then remind yourself that healing is a process! Just like the discomfort of contractures, sometimes you must let the injury heal and give it time for your body's tissues to remodel completely.
Adjust Your Workout
Modify your workouts to avoid re-injury as you ease back into being physically active. This may mean reducing the length of your sessions or your previous level of intensity, or it may call for switching to an activity that won't stress the vulnerable area. For example, if your knee affects you, straight-up running or sprinting might not be an option, so try cycling instead if it feels right – be careful if your knees are primarily affected; cycling can still strain joints!
In addition, do some specific strengthening exercises for the muscles that support the area you injured. It is where you will want to start by building up the rest of your body's strength. For example, if this is your knee, you'll want to primarily focus on strengthening both legs' thigh muscles (inner, outer, and back); balanced strength here can guard against future harm.
Have you been doing your physical therapy exercises? Because if not, then I suggest you start immediately: there's no time like the present! Starting with a shorter, less intense workout than the ones you used to do before is a good place to start - work your way up gradually over time. The best part about it is that staying physically active after an injury does more than help you recover: it's also a great way of preventing further injuries from happening in the first place!
You need to realize that your body can heal itself. So when you're hurt, try not to stress too much over the issue and allow your body's natural healing processes to do their work. After an injury, it may not be easy to maintain an active lifestyle. Still, it helps to renew a person's physical capabilities and appreciation of what being healthy means.
"This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult your physician to determine a treatment plan that is right for you."