An acute injury typically occurs in connection with a sudden or rapid movement under load or a quick change of direction. If you've been unfortunate enough to sustain an injury, you can find information and helpful advice here

Causes and Symptoms

In the case of acute injuries, ligaments, tendons, and muscles are strained beyond their normal capacity to stretch and yield. An impact to a bone, such as from a fall, can also damage the surrounding tissue.

Common injuries are sprains and muscle tears.

It hurts when tissue is damaged because the nerve fibers in the area are affected. The small blood vessels in the tissue will also be damaged, causing blood to seep into the surrounding tissue. The bleeding increases the pressure in the injured area, and the pain will intensify as the bleeding and pressure increase. Acute injury treatment is about limiting the bleeding and swelling in the tissue to reduce subsequent discomfort and shorten the recovery period.

If you're unsure whether a bone fracture, torn ligament, or similar injury might have occurred, you should consult your doctor.

What You Can Do

There is a lot you can do to reduce the subsequent discomfort due to your injury and shorten the recovery period. The most common recommendation for treating acute injuries follows the advice outlined below (the PRICEM principle):

PRICEM

P (Protection) + R (Rest): You should stop the ongoing activity and give yourself rest by avoiding further strain on the injured area.

I (Ice): To alleviate pain, you can apply ice to the injury for a maximum of 10 minutes at a time. The ice helps reducing the pain but does not fix the injury.

C (Compression): For the first 1-2 days after the injury, apply pressure to the area. Using an elastic bandage provides compression. The bandage reduces and prevents swelling in the area but should not be too tight and cause pain.

E (Elevation): You should elevate the injured area above heart level while maintaining compression. This helps reduce blood pressure in the injured area and decreases the risk of increased pressure.

M (Mobilization): To achieve optimal healing, you should begin moving the injured body part as soon as possible and as pain allows. Start by moving the nearest joint to slowly regain comfort in movement. For example, if your ankle is sprained, you can start by wiggling your toes or bending and straightening your knee. If your hand is injured, you can bend and straighten your elbow.

Mobilization is important and the next step is to resume normal activities while being aware of reactions such as swelling and pain. Activities that do not worsen the pain will promote tissue healing. There is evidence that exercise and movement of the damaged area improve function and reduce the risk of new injuries.
Resume normal activities and apply appropriate load to the area as soon as symptoms allow. Optimal loading without worsening pain promotes healing and maturation of the tissue.

Anti-Inflammatory Medication for Acute Injuries

When you are injured, your body immediately begins to repair itself. The first phase of the healing process is called inflammation, which lasts for a few days depending on the size of the injury. Inflammation plays a crucial role in healing, which is one reason why anti-inflammatory medication is not recommended according to new guidelines for acute injury treatment.

After a few days, it may be beneficial to reduce pain with analgesics when you start specific rehabilitation exercises.

If symptoms persist unchanged for a long time, you should contact your doctor for recommendations on a treatment plan.