Alternative medicine and sport injuries

Alternative medicine

Sports injuries are common, and vary from minor toe injuries to major complex trauma. Usually,
only soft tissue is damaged, but there can also be fracturing of bone. Soft tissue injuries include sprains,
strains and bruising. A sprain is a partial or complete rupture of a ligament, a strain is a partial tear of
muscles and a bruise is a rupture of tissue leading to a haematoma. Any soft-tissue injury can lead to a
tenderness, swelling, haematoma, scarring, fibrosis and loss of function.
After a sports injury or sprain, immediate first aid is very important. The acronym RICE
summarizes the approach:

  • Rest the injured part as soon as it is hurt to avoid further injury.
  • Ice the area of pain to decrease swelling and bleeding.
  • Compress the area with an elastic bandage to limit swelling and bleeding.
  • Elevate the injured part above the level of the heart to increase drainage of fluids out of the
    injured area.

But that’s not all you can do. In the next few days after injury, you can greatly improve
recovery time by taking nutrients that decrease inflammation and speed healing. Here are four
especially good strategies: Most commonly, sports injuries affect the lower limb, particularly the ankle (e.g. Achilles
tendinopathy, sprains) and knee (e.g. patellofemoral pain syndrome, ligament injuries). Other common
sporting injuries include those of the shoulder (e.g. dislocations, acromioclavicular joint injuries, rotator
cuff injuries); elbow (e.g. tennis, golfer’s); wrist (e.g. strains, sprains, breaks); leg (e.g. shin splints, stress
fractures, hamstring injuries); foot (e.g. plantar fasciitis); groin (strain); and back (e.g. acute lumbar
sprain). Injuries can be caused by trauma as a result of a sudden impact or awkward movement, or can
develop over time often due to continual use of the same joints or muscle groups. Contributing factors
can be not warming, using inadequate equipment or training too hard for current level of fitness.
The aims of therapy are to relieve pain, control inflammation, hasten resolution of a haematoma,
and accelerate repair. Also, there should be restoration of function and recovery of muscle power.
Conventional approaches to sports injuries include RICE, anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics,
immobilisation, corticosteroid injections, physiotherapy and surgery.
Injured sport men no longer have to rely on the standard sports medicine regimen of antiinflammatories, rest, and even surgery to bounce back. Recent clinical studies have endorsed an array of
alternatives—everything from innovative massage techniques to injection treatments to laser therapies.
Even ancient remedies, like acupuncture, are being fused with new technology for sports medicine
purposes. Anyone who has suffered a sports injury should consult a doctor as soon as possible.
However, once the injury is stabilized, patient should take the time to consult an expert in alternative
treatments for sports injuries. Alternative medicine methods for pain management treatment varied
widely. One holistic practitioners take a comprehensive approach to identity the root causes the pain.
Athletes have always been progressive in finding therapies or treatments thought to increase
power, speed, and overall performance. There are a variety of choices available which can provide
specific and individualized results with the guidance of a qualified practitioner.
As you can see, complementary and alternative medicine has found its way not only into the
healthcare arena of the general public, but also onto the practice fields and into the equipment bags of
both amateur and professional athletes. We must find a way to guide and educate those active and
athletic patients who are trying to navigate this maze of healthcare options. Integration of complementary
and alternative medicine into the sport arena is only going to increase in the future, which calls for more
collaboration and discussion between healthcare practitioners of both conventional and complementary
medicine.
This education has purpose to promote integrative medicine methods for sport prevention and
treatment of injuries, and increasing sport men performances. This publication is consist of personal
experience and consulting studies.