MUSCULOSKELETAL INJURIES
These are the most common group of injuries sustained under the banner of soft injury which can reflect many structures that are in the body.
These can result in damage to:
- Injuries to muscles, causing strains, ruptures and tears
- Injuries to tendons and fascia
- Injuries to ligaments causing sprains or tears
- Injuries to cartilage
- Injuries to bursa which can result in bursitis
- Previous musculoskeletal injuries which have not received any treatment and have become chronic
Soft tissue injuries occur for a variety of reasons, such as general accidents, sporting activities, physical work, poor posture, repetitive strain, overuse, work related activity and stress. There are a number of stages to which an injury will progress and these are:
- Acute stage ...this is the inflammatory response period
- Sub acute stage ...lasts until resolution of the injured tissue
- Chronic stage ...a non resolved sub acute injury which has not been managed
- Early treatment at the acute or sub acute stage is recommended for effective and efficient treatment
- Injuries to bursa which can result in bursitis
- Previous musculoskeletal injuries which have not received any treatment and have become chronic
Early treatment at the acute or sub acute stage is recommended for effective and efficient treatment
Injuries to the muscles and ligaments can take 3 to 6 months for full tissue/structure repair. Early treatment will be beneficial and effective in managing the injury through its recognised pathway of repair, which is:
- The inflammatory stage
- The regeneration and replacement stage
- The remodelling stage
Why do these injuries require prompt treatment?
Soft tissue injuries occur for a variety of reasons, such as general accidents, sporting activities, physical work, poor posture, stress and tension.
Untreated these injuries can exacerbate problems by increasing inflammation, pain, muscle spasm and system dysfunction. This may cause further injury to the muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints and therefore prolong recovery. Early treatment with adequate support and rehabilitation can help to repair and improve many of these conditions and prevent further deterioration