The worst things to deal with when you work out regularly are sudden gym injuries. Sure, there might be some injuries where all you have to do is rest for a while till it heals by itself. But there are more serious injuries, such as broken bones, dislocations, and even tendonitis that can cause major problems in the future if you do not take care of them. Muscle injuries are still relatively easier to deal with, such as a hamstring pull. You might not need a doctor to take care of it, but there are a few things that you should know which will equip you to take better care of yourself.
Use RICE immediately after your injury
As soon as you get injured, it is quite important to deal with the sharp pain. The injured area might be quite sensitive and tender to touch. You should rest it as much as possible since it will be prone to more serious injury if you do not rest. Ice your bruise to help prevent swelling and relieve your pain. Wrap up the injured area with a bandage so that the area is nicely compressed and it can help prevent a buildup of fluid around the injury. It will also help keep it stable. Remember to also elevate your injury above your heart level so that it does not swell up too much. This will allow fluid to drain away from the area.
Get an X-ray if swelling persists
If you feel like the pain is too sharp to bear and even a little bit of movement is making you scream out in pain, it is probably best to get it checked by a doctor. Getting an Xray will help you determine whether you have a broken bone or not. Depending on your results, your doctor might put on a plaster and give you some pain medications if you have broken it. This will also help rule out serious injuries.
What to do after a week
If your bone is not broken, your injury will most likely begin to heal within 72 hours of injury. Your swelling and pain will reduce significantly after proper care. You can even start alternating ice and heat treatments to help it heal faster. Heat will help promote your blood circulation and reduce your bruises further, while icing will help you take care of your pain and swelling. This method is recommended by a lot of trainers.
What to do after a month
If you have injured yourself quite a bit, you might have some residual and lingering tenderness and pain for a few months. Do not be alarmed since this is quite normal. There are even medicated creams that will help alleviate your pain. Do not forget to exercise and stretch the injured area in a careful way after a month.
Once you injure a muscle, it is always prone to more injury. This is why you should properly stretch and warm-up before you start exercising every time.
Leave a Reply