Treatment Of Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue injury occurs in the soft parts of the musculoskeletal system. This system consists of tendons, ligaments and muscles.
- Muscles are made up of a collection of fibers that can shorten, contract and stretch due to their elasticity.
- On the other hand, tendons are the parts of muscles that connect the muscles and bones. The tendons transfer energy to the bone to cause movement.
- Finally, ligaments are similar in structure to tendons. However, their job is to bond and stabilize the components that make up a joint.
Soft tissue injuries are divided into two categories: acute and overuse. We will explain this further below.
Acute soft tissue injury
These types of injuries are caused by sudden trauma, such as a fall or blow. Sprains, strains and bruises belong to this category.
Sprain
A sprain is the stretching and/or tearing of soft tissues. The body parts most likely to suffer from sprains are ankles, knees, and wrists. According to their severity, they are classified as:
- Mild Sprain – Grade 1 or Less: Mild stretching occurs, as well as minor damage to the ligament fibers.
- Moderate sprain – grade 2: an incomplete ligament tear.
- Severe Sprain – Grade 3: Total ligament tear causing instability.
Although the intensity varies, pain, bruising, swelling, and inflammation are common in all three types of sprains described above.
strain
A strain is the soft tissue injuries often caused by overuse, overstretching, or extreme exertion. Strains can range from a slight stretch to a partial or complete tear in both the muscle and tendon. These are the most common symptoms of a strain:
- muscle spasms
- cramps
- muscle weakness
- inflammation
Bruise
A bruise or bruise is the result of an external force or blow. Damage to the blood vessels then causes a color change. It can even limit the possibilities of movement.
Treatment of acute soft tissue injuries
The treatment of these injuries varies depending on both the type and severity. When an acute soft tissue injury occurs, the initial treatment conforms to the RICE protocol:
- peace
- ice
- compression
- elevation
It is important to take a break from the activity that caused the injury, along with applying ice or cold compresses for 20 minutes, several times a day.
In addition, experts recommend wearing an inflammation and elevating the injured limb above the heart to avoid fattening and inflammation as much as possible.
The treatment of minor sprains is also the RICE protocol. However, moderate sprains often require an immobilization period, and severe sprains may even require surgery to repair the injury.
When it comes to strains, experts also recommend using rest, ice, compression, and elevation. You should follow this protocol along with simple exercises to relieve the pain and restore mobility. Most mild strains respond well to the RICE protocol.
Soft Tissue Overload Injuries
These injuries occur gradually and develop over time. They manifest when someone does a particular physical activity so often that their body doesn’t have enough time to heal. Tendonitis and bursitis are the most common soft tissue problems in this category.
Tendonitis
Tendonitis or tendonitis is an irritation or inflammation of the tendon. Usually it occurs as a result of a series of repeated attempts affecting the tendon. Typical symptoms of tendonitis include swelling and pain that worsens with activity.
Bursitis
Bursae are small gelatinous sacs that are located around the shoulder, elbows, hip, knees and ankles. They contain a small amount of viscous fluid and are located between the bones and soft tissues. So they act as cushions to reduce friction.
Bursitis is inflammation of these bursae. This annoying injury occurs as a result of small, repetitive efforts and is known for its slow recovery.
Treatment of overuse injuries
Experts recommend rest, anti-inflammatory drugs, and exercise to improve flexibility in treating tendonitis. If the swelling persists, it can cause significant damage to the tendon, which may require surgical treatment.
You can relieve bursitis by adjusting your activities. You should also take anti-inflammatory drugs. If your condition does not improve, you may need to remove the fluid from the bursa.
