Soft Tissues Injury

Sprains or Strains of soft tissues 

It is reported about 550.000 Australians are suffered from sprains or strains of soft tissues caused by sporting activities and working accidents.

Sprain or strain of the soft tissues refers to the sprain or strain of the muscles, tendons and ligaments around shoulders, elbows, hip joints, knees and ankles due to over twisting or pulling without fracture, dislocation and contusion of skin. Soft tissues injuries include acute and chronic two types. They can take between 2 to 12 weeks to recover, depending on the injury, treatment, age and personal health condition.

Causes

Soft tissue contains bundles of fibres of protein. The fibres are overstretched or torn as sudden twists and jolts put greater force than the tissues can structurally withstand, even the swelling is caused by bleeding from ruptured blood vessels. This problem pertains to the conception of "impairment of tendons" in Traditional Chinese Medicine due to improper exertion or contusion that impairs the vessels and meridians, and result in stagnation of qi and blood.

Symptoms

The symptoms of a sprain or strain are soreness, stiffness, pain, bruised skin, dysfunction of the joints of limbs.

Acute Soft Tissue Injury Treatment

First aid steps should be taken when the acute soft tissue injuries happen during your sport or exercise.

1. Stop your sport or exercise.

2. Rest the injured limbs or area.

3. Apply ice packs on injured site for 15 minutes every two hours within 24 hours.

4. Compress or bandage the injured area, and extending the bandage from below to above.

5. Raise the injured area or limbs above heart position level.

6. Avoid alcohol and massage treatment if there is bruised skin or serious pain.

7. Acupuncture treatment can reduce inflammation.

Chronic Soft Tissue Treatment

Chronic Soft Tissue injuries are normally accumulated after long period exercising or doing repetitive tasks. The mainly cause of a chronic soft tissue injury is overuse, such as poor posture and excising too frequently without sufficient recovery time.

Acupuncture and remedial massage combined treatment can be applied in chronic soft tissue injuries, it is important to get the treatment as soon as possible after the injury to help soft tissues recovery.