Eat a healthy, balanced diet consisting of the five main food groups in moderation, and drink plenty of water. Equally important is to get enough rest as it plays a crucial role in preparing your body to run well. In particular, if you have a running injury, rest and allow your body to fully recover before resuming your training. Most importantly, those with chronic muscle complaints should consult a doctor to ensure you receive the appropriate treatment for your injury.
Treatment
The “RICE” method should be followed when administering first aid to sports-related injuries:
- Rest Take a break from the sport or stop playing it immediately in order to avoid further injury.
- Ice Apply ice to the affected area. This causes the blood vessels to constrict and will reduce pain, inflammation and bleeding.
- Compression Applying pressure or wrapping up the injured area will reduce inflammation, stop hemorrhage and reduce swelling.
- Elevation Raising the injured area above your heart will reduce local blood vessel pressure and increase drainage of the flow to the affected area, which significantly reduces bleeding and swelling.
The area of the body which is frequently injured and requires medical treatment is the knee joint. Knee injuries range in severity and include bruising and grazes, muscle tears, ligament and tendon damage, meniscus damage, cartilage problems, synovial fluid issues and joint dislocation.
Treatments depend on the severity of the injury, with less severe injuries being treatable through the “RICE” method. However, if the injury takes longer than 2-3 days to go away, a visit to the doctor for a detailed diagnosis and subsequent treatment advice is required.
Whether you’re a professional athlete or recreational sports enthusiastic, the demands of a physically active lifestyle can be tough. That’s why we at the Sports and Orthopedic Center at Samitivej Hospital, Bangkok are there to offer the finest, personalized treatment to help get you back up and running. We provide treatment and rehabilitation to everyone from marathon runners to office workers