Assess pain level and look out for swelling and discoloration to determine the seriousness of the injury.
Loss of mobility in legs, arms, neck, or back may require medical attention.
Get an open MRI scan to assess the extent of the injury and determine the necessary treatment.
Feverish symptoms or nausea can signal something more sinister than a sprain or strain and should not be ignored.
Ensuring proper recovery through medical advice will help you get back into action quickly.
If you’re an active person, chances are, at some point, you will sustain an injury while playing sports. It’s essential to know the difference between a minor and a major injury so that you can take the appropriate steps to treat it. Here are a few essential tips for active people on how to know if the sports injury they sustained is serious.
Assess Your Pain Level
One of the first things you should do when assessing a sports-related injury is to rate your pain level on a scale from one to ten. If your pain level is above five or six, it could indicate a more severe injury. It should be looked at by a medical professional.
Pay Attention To Swelling
Swelling is often one of the first signs that something isn’t quite right with an injured area. If swelling persists after taking anti-inflammatory medications, it could indicate something more severe than an isolated strain or sprain.
Look Out For Discoloration
Bruising, discoloration, and redness around any injured area can indicate something more severe than a minor pull or strain. If your skin color changes around the injured area, this could signal there is internal bleeding in the muscle tissue and requires medical attention as soon as possible.
Consider Loss Of Mobility
Losing mobility in any limb or joint may indicate something more severe than just a pulled muscle or strained ligament and should be taken seriously. Here are the common mobility loss issues you should know about:
Loss of mobility in your legs
If your legs cannot move easily, it could indicate a possible tear in a muscle or tendon. This could result from overuse, an imbalance in strength between opposing muscles due to one being used more than the other, or even a direct trauma injury to the area.
Loss of mobility in your arms
If you cannot move your arms easily or they feel unsteady, it could mean damage to either a muscle, tendon, or joint in the area. This could include anything from a small tear to a more severe dislocation, both requiring medical attention as soon as possible.
Loss of mobility in your neck
If you have difficulty moving your neck, it could be because of an underlying injury that has not been addressed. A strain or sprain can limit the range of motion, but more severe injuries, such as a herniated disc or pinched nerve, require medical attention.
Loss of mobility in your back
If you cannot move your back easily, it could indicate something more severe than a simple muscle strain. Strains and spasms can cause pain and discomfort in the lower back, but more severe issues, such as a herniated disc or nerve damage, require medical attention.
Loss of mobility may require a proper diagnosis from a medical professional before you can begin the healing process. So if you experience any of these symptoms, you must take them seriously and visit a doctor as soon as possible. You should also consider getting an open MRI scan to assess the full extent of the injury and determine what kind of treatment is necessary. This will help you get back on your feet faster and prevent further damage.
Watch For Fever Or Nausea
An increase in body temperature (fever) or nausea can be signs of something more severe than an isolated sprain or strain. They should be taken seriously if they arise after sustaining any type of sports-related injury, regardless of how minor it may seem initially upon impact with another player or object that caused the initial trauma/injury in question.
When it comes to assessing a sports-related injury, there are several things you should look out for. Assessing your pain level on a scale from one to ten is a good place to start, as well as looking for signs of swelling and discoloration in the affected area. If you experience any loss of mobility in your legs, arms, or back that persists even after taking anti-inflammatory medications, this could indicate something more serious that requires medical attention.
Additionally, if you have feverish symptoms or feel nauseous following the trauma/injury, then these too can indicate something more sinister than just an isolated sprain or strain and should not be ignored. By considering all these factors when assessing a sports-related injury and seeking proper medical advice where necessary, you will help ensure that your recovery process goes smoothly so that you can get back into action quickly!
