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| Is My
Injury Serious? |
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How To Tell If Your Injury
Is Serious
There are some common tip-offs you should recognize as warning
signs that you have an injury that needs your attention. While
some sports injuries are immediately evident, others can creep
up slowly and progressively get worse. If you don't pay
attention to both types of injuries, chronic problems can
develop.
Joint Pain
Joint pain, particularly in the joints of the knee, ankle, elbow
and wrist, should never be ignored. Because these joints are not
covered by muscle, there is rarely a muscular origin. Joint pain
that lasts more than 48 hours requires a physician diagnosis.
Tenderness At A Specific Point
If you can elicit pain at a specific point in a bone, muscle or
joint, by pressing your finger into it, you may have a
significant injury.
If the same spot on the other side of the body does not produce
the same pain, you should probably see a physician.
Swelling
Swelling is usually quite obvious, and can be seen, but
occasionally you may feel swollen without outward signs.
Swelling is always a sign of a sports injury and should never be
ignored. Often, swelling within a joint will cause pain,
stiffness, or may produce a clicking sound as the tendons snap
over one another because they have been pushed into a new
position due to swelling.
Reduced Range Of Motion
If swelling isn't obvious, you can usually find it by checking
for a reduced range of motion in a joint. If there is
significant swelling within a joint, you will lose range of
motion; the limb will only go so far in each direction. Again,
compare one side of the body with the other to identify major
differences. If there are any, you have an injury that needs
attention.
Comparative Weakness
Comparing one side to the other for weakness is often hard to
do, but can be a good clue to identify significant injury. One
way to tell is to left the same weight with the right and left
side and look at the result. Often therapists will test
comparative weakness manually or with special equipment.
Numbness and Tingling
Never ignore numbness or tingling. Often related to nerve
compression, these warning signs may indicate serious injury and
should always be seen by a physician. |
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