Mahaska Health Partnership Explains Common Sports-Related Injuries
Mahaska Health Partnership
MAHASKA COUNTY – Whether you’re a young athlete out for your favorite seasonal sport or a weekend warrior, injuries can occur. Family Practice Physician Case Everett, MD, offers advice on preventing and treating the most common sports-related injuries at any age.
When it comes to injury prevention, completing a warm-up and pacing yourself are essential. “Before any exercise, it’s important to get the blood flowing and increase muscle flexibility,” Dr. Everett shared. “If you are starting a new activity, slowly work up to it by training ahead of time. Don’t jump into something you haven’t done in a long time or ever before without some preparation.”
If you do become injured, Dr. Everett recommends the RICE treatment. “If you do injure yourself, it’s important to treat the injury immediately. RICE stands for Restrict, Ice, Compress and Elevate. As soon as you are injured, take any pressure off the affected area by stopping the activity and sitting down. Apply ice immediately for 20 minutes every one to two hours for the first two days and avoid any heat, which can actually increase inflammation. Compress the affected area with an elastic bandage and elevate it above the heart to reduce swelling.”
One of the most common types of injuries is a sprain or strain. “Sprains occur when the ligaments surrounding a joint stretch or tear,” Dr. Everett explained. These are most commonly seen in ankles, as those ligaments are fairly weak. If you experience a sprain, it’s important to exercise the area to prevent re-injury or loss of flexibility and strength.
“Strains occur when you injure muscle fibers or tendons,” Dr. Everett continued. “They’re called strains or pulled muscles because you did just that; you over-extended the muscle, causing tears in the fibers or tendons. These connective materials function like springs and will return to their normal length unless they are stretched too far, causing a strain.”
Most of the time, over-the-counter pain relievers can make an injury tolerable. “If your pain is too severe even with treatment, it’s a good idea to contact your primary care provider and see what’s going on,” Dr. Everett advised. “Also watch for abnormal looking joints, the inability to put any pressure on the affected limb, extreme swelling or severe skin color changes other than bruising. All of these signs can mean something additional is going on other than a mild injury, so get checked out as soon as possible to prevent permanent damage.”
Family Practice Physician Case Everett, MD, practices fulltime at the MHP Medical Group, providing primary care to all ages and also delivering babies. Dr. Everett is originally from New Sharon and is passionate about serving his home community. Dr. Everett chose Family Practice with obstetrics because he knew there was a need for obstetrical providers in rural Iowa and wanted to provide an all-encompassing medical practice to his patients. For an appointment with Dr. Everett, call 641.672.3360.
Mahaska Health Partnership, located in Oskaloosa, is a non-profit health system accredited by the Joint Commission. It is guided by its mission to provide exceptional customer service and health improvement, linking the science of medicine with the humanity of compassionate care. For more information about how Mahaska Health Partnership is making healthcare personal, visit mahaskahealth.org.
