Strains, Sprains & Injuries
Injuries can happen in all sorts of ways, from a sudden pull during sport to an awkward landing, a fall or an accident at work. The circumstances, structures involved and consequences can be very different, even when two injuries initially seem quite similar.
Sudden or unexpected?
Some injuries happen during a familiar activity, like running or lifting. Others occur because of a fall, collision or unexpected movement.
Muscle, ligament or joint?
An injury might involve a muscle, tendon, ligament, joint or bone. Sometimes more than one structure is affected.
Minor or more significant?
Some injuries settle quickly with a little guidance. Others need more protection, investigation or a longer period of rehabilitation.
Rest or keep moving?
Knowing how much to use the injured area can be difficult. The right approach depends on what has been injured and how it responds to activity.
Sudden or unexpected?
Some injuries happen during a familiar activity, like running or lifting. Others occur because of a fall, collision or unexpected movement.
Muscle, ligament or joint?
An injury might involve a muscle, tendon, ligament, joint or bone. Sometimes more than one structure is affected.
Minor or more significant?
Some injuries settle quickly with a little guidance. Others need more protection, investigation or a longer period of rehabilitation.
Rest or keep moving?
Knowing how much to use the injured area can be difficult. The right approach depends on what has been injured and how it responds to activity.
Whatever the circumstances, the important thing is understanding what's likely to have been injured, whether anything needs further investigation, and what you can safely do to help your recovery.
Ready to get started?
Book an initial physiotherapy consultation and we'll help you work out what's happened and what to do next.
Common Questions About Strains, Sprains & Injuries
Although injuries happen in different ways and affect different parts of the body, many of the questions people have afterwards are surprisingly similar.
Let's follow three people who've injured themselves in different circumstances, and explore some of the questions we commonly hear about what they've injured, what to do next and how to recover.
I’ve hurt myself. What now?
Sometimes you know exactly when it happened: a sudden pull, a rolled ankle, a fall or an awkward landing. What’s less obvious is what you’ve actually injured, how much you should use it, and what you should do next.
What have I actually done?
An injury doesn't always mean something has completely torn or broken. Muscles, ligaments and joints can be injured to different degrees.
What should I do now?
Getting it properly assessed is the best next step.
How an injury occurred and what happened immediately afterwards reveals a lot about how serious it is. A thorough assessment includes a conversation asking about the incident, how the area has behaved since, and whether there are any other symptoms that might change what you should do next.
We also need to physically examine the injury, looking at things like movement, strength, tenderness and how well the injured area is functioning.
The aim is to work out what has likely been injured, how significant the injury is, and whether it can be managed in the clinic or needs further investigation, such as a scan or referral to an orthopaedic surgeon.
How can I get it fixed?
Once we understand the injury, the next step depends on what we find.
If the assessment suggests the injury needs further investigation or specialist input, we'll explain why and help point you in the right direction.
For most injuries that can be managed conservatively, rehabilitation can begin straight away and progress as the injury heals.
Early on, treatment might include joint mobilisation and massage, and simple exercises matched to your injury severity and stage of healing.
As the injury settles, the focus shifts towards rebuilding strength, balance and confidence. Exercises become progressively more challenging as your capacity improves.
Later rehabilitation should prepare you for the demands you need to get back to, whether that means sport, work or everyday life.
How do I stop it from happening again?
Once you've recovered, the focus shifts from rehabilitation to keeping your body ready for the things you want to do.
For many injuries, that means maintaining your strength and fitness, staying active, and making sure your body is prepared for the demands of your sport, work or everyday life.
You don't necessarily need to keep doing your rehabilitation exercises forever. As you recover, they can gradually become part of normal strength training, exercise, sport or whatever you enjoy doing to stay active.
You can't prevent every future injury, but staying strong, active and prepared for the things you ask your body to do gives you a good foundation for staying well.
Ready to get your injury checked?
Book an initial physiotherapy consultation and we'll help you work out what you've injured and what to do next.
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