Acute Muscle Strain or Ligament Strain

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What to do after a Muscle Strain, Ligament Sprain or Sports Injury?

It’s every player’s worst nightmare, a sudden sharp pain in the muscle or at a joint while playing sport. It often means a muscle strain or ligament strain. The most important thing is to manage an acute injury properly, from the very start.

Immediately after every sports injury you should use the P.R.I.C.E. approach as this is the Gold Standard treatment approach. Be it a muscle strain, a ligament sprain, a tendon injury, an overuse injury, or a dead leg, the same applies.

During this time we have treated all nature of sports injuries, from the onset of an acute sports injury right through to full rehabilitation and return to sport. From here we have developed the scope of our practice to include many injury prevention regimes.

P.R.I.C.E.

PROTECTION: Protect the injured area from further injury by stopping activity, taking the weight off the injured area and immobilising it.
REST: Rest from sport to give the area a chance to heal itself as all injuries must go through an initial inflammatory phase.This takes approximately 48 hours and requires rest to occur without interruption
ICE: Ice or cold therapy will reduce blood flow to the area during this early anti-inflammatory stage. When you are applying ice you should protect the skin with a damp cloth to prevent ice burns. If ice is unavailable use something cold like water or cold wet towels. The ideal is to apply cold/ice therapy for 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours.
COMPRESSION: Applying a compression bandage to an injured area helps prevent increased damage to the area through secondary swelling. It is often the post injury swelling that slows down rehabilitation later.
ELEVATION: Raising the injured area to allow swelling to drain away is essential. Raise it above the level of the hip or shoulder as this is where the lymph nodes are. Gravity will help drain the swelling via the lymph nodes using gravity.

Should I take anti-inflamatory medication or anti-inflamatory gels for acute injury?

During the first 48 hours after any injury you should not take anti-inflammatory medication or use anti-inflammatory gels. An important part of the healing process involves the inflammatory reaction which occurs in the injured area in the first few days.

After 48 hours you can take over the counter anti-inflammatory medications. If you are a competitive sportsperson or athlete, performing at a competitive level however you be aware of anti doping regulations. You should consult your doctor for prescribed medication, if you are already taking medication or have an underlying medical condition.

Stretching

A lot of debate has raged over recent years about whether or not it is correct to do static stratching. One thing for certain is that any static stretches should be carried out in a safe and effective manner, and that harmful stretches, of which there are many, should be avoided. Sports Injury Stretching Techniques for more information on stretching.

Recurrent Sports Injuries

Hamstrings, groins, shin splints, achilles tendonitis, calf strains, runner’s knee, foot pain, low back pain etc.

Niggling Hamstring pain and groin pain plague many athletes year in and year out. Many of our clients have reported pulling their hamstrings a few times in one season, and we have had reports of up to 20 or 30 hamstring strains in one person’s sporting career.

We specialise in interrupting this repetitive injury cycle. Through thorough assessment with detailed analysis of movement, movement control, muscle strength, flexibility, functional stability and the impact of overuse and underuse of specific muscle groups we can accurately determine the cause of your specific repetitive injury.

When should you start treatment for a sports injury?

Many treatments are not advocated until the anti-inflammatory stage of the first 48 hours is complete. In Kilkenny Physiotherapy & Sports Injury clinic we like to see an acute muscle or ligament strain injury and commence treatment as early as possible. We offer a number of early treatment approaches.

Laser equipment within the first 24 hours to accelerate the inflammatory process by enhanced cellular healing.
Cryotherapy pressure therapy incorporating ice therapy and compression.
Manual Lymphatic Drainage to accelerate the removal of swelling from the injured limb.
Neuro-muscular stimulation of inhibited muscles in the surrounding area.
Advice and education to minimise the risk of secondary injury and promote healing.
Early assessment and treatment planning so it will be all systems go when the time is right.
Maintenance exercise programmes for unaffected areas
Ultrasound as indicator of an underlying fracture

Why should you seek early physiotherapy treatment for a sports injury?

Early assessment may show up hidden fractures or more severe injuries
Pain reduction without medication
Reduce swelling and so prevent unnecessary secondary issues
Faster passage through the entire healing process
Quicker return to activity, work and sport
Prevent abnormal scar tissue formation
Less likelihood of recurrence of injury

Physiotherapy treatment in Kilkenny physiotherapy clinic for muscle strain, ligament strain or sports injury after the first 48 hours?

In Kilkenny Physiotherapy & Sports Injury clinic we use a number of treatments for ligament or muscle injuries, but the first and most important task is to thoroughly assess the injury.

Detailed history of the nature of the injury, predisposing factors, force of trauma, pre-injury status and early management.
Subjective assessment of how the injury is progressing and what aggravates or eases it
Objective examination including visual inspection, palpation of the area, assessment of flexibility and strength.
Functional assessment of relevant activities.
Biomechanical assessment of relevant musculo-skeletal system to determine underlying predisposing factors

Once a good working diagnosis has been made and a plan for management established treatment will commence. In our clinic we have a number of treatment options available to us:

Soft tissue and Deep tissue massage
Deep Transverse Frictions
Deep Dry Needling
Manual Lymphatic Drainage
Muscle Facilitation
Joint Mobilisation – Manual, Mulligans, PPIVMs, PPAVMs, Maitland, Cyriax
Electrotherapy – Interferential therapy, Ultrasound, Laser, Neuro-muscular facilitation
Stretching Exercises
Strengthening Exercises
Biomechanical Correction
Strength & Conditioning
Sports Specific Rehabilitation

Types of Acute Muscle Strain or Ligament Strain

Ankle Sprains

If an excessive force is applied to an ankle, the ligament which holds the bones of the foot to the bones of the leg, may become injured.

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Hamstring Strain

When an excessive load is applied to a muscle as it is contracting, or over stretches as it is lengthening some of the fibres may tear.

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Groin Strain

The groin pain may be at the front of the hip joint, or slightly above it, in the actual groin area, between the legs, or the pubic bone.

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Calf Strain

Calf pain is usually due to a calf strain, cramp or tightness due to overuse of the calf muscle.

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Acute Muscle Strain or Ligament Strain

What to do after a Muscle Strain, Ligament Sprain or Sports Injury?

P.R.I.C.E.

Should I take anti-inflamatory medication or anti-inflamatory gels for acute injury?

Stretching

Recurrent Sports Injuries

When should you start treatment for a sports injury?

Why should you seek early physiotherapy treatment for a sports injury?

Physiotherapy treatment in Kilkenny physiotherapy clinic for muscle strain, ligament strain or sports injury after the first 48 hours?

Once a good working diagnosis has been made and a plan for management established treatment will commence. In our clinic we have a number of treatment options available to us:

Types of Acute Muscle Strain or Ligament Strain

Ankle Sprains

Hamstring Strain

Groin Strain

Calf Strain

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