There are many people who love playing sports, and it is something that is healthy for people of all ages. Playing sports is a great way to learn about teamwork, stay in shape, and push yourself to do something you have never done before. With many people gearing up for the fall sports season, it is important to remember that injuries can still take place while playing sports. There are some injuries that you may be able to treat at home, but there are other injuries that you will certainly need to go to the hospital for. What do you need to know about sports injuries?
How To Evaluate a Sports Injury
If you believe that someone has gotten hurt while playing sports, there are a few things you need to evaluate right away. They include:
- Obvious Disfigurement: First, you need to look for any signs of obvious disfigurement. For example, if there is a bone that is bent the wrong way, it is a sign of an emergency. You need to get it treated quickly by a medical professional.
- Disorientation: Head injuries can be particularly serious. If someone appears to be disoriented, they may have suffered a serious head injury. The injury needs to be evaluated by a medical professional.
- Range of Motion: When trying to evaluate the severity of an injury, you need to check the range of motion. Does someone have an equal range of motion on both sides? If they do, the injury might not be as serious.
- Discoloration: You should also look for signs of discoloration. If there is obvious, deep bruising around the injury, it could be quite serious.
Swelling: You also need to look for signs of swelling. It is not unusual for a broken bone to swell, even if someone feels like it is not broken.
All of these factors should be considered when you are trying to decide what to do next.
What You Can Treat at Home
There are several types of injuries you can treat at home. They include:
- General Soreness: If someone is feeling a bit sore because of a direct contusion, you might be able to treat it at home using rest, ice, compression, and elevation.
- Minor Sprains: If someone has suffered a minor sprain, it is possible for you to treat this at home. Again, you should try to avoid using that area for a few days to give it time to heal.
- Slight Strains: If someone has suffered a mild muscle strain, it is okay to treat that injury at home. You will need to give it a few days to heal.
There are other types of injuries you can treat as well, but it all depends on how it is evaluated and someone’s overall pain tolerance.
When To Go to the ER
On the other hand, there are injuries that you definitely need to go to the emergency room for. They include:
- Certain Head Injuries: If someone has suffered a head injury that leads to anything other than a headache, you need to go to the ER. Anyone who loses consciousness should also go to the ER. If the head wound is open, if there is swelling, or if someone is confused, they need to go to the ER.
- Broken Bones: If someone has an obvious broken bone, they need to go to the emergency room to be evaluated. It might require surgical fixation.
- Inability To Bear Weight: If someone has an inability to bear weight with an injured body part, you need to go to the ER.
That is where we can help you.
Rely on CapRock Health for Help With Sports Injuries
At CapRock Health, we are proud to provide exceptional care for sports injuries in College Station, Texas. If you are concerned that someone you know may have suffered a sports injury, contact us today to learn more!