Injuries to Muscles and Ligaments

INJURIES TO MUSCLES AND LIGAMENTSBy Dr. Ali Ghahary

With nice weather and increasing temperatures as a result, more Canadians will find themselves wanting to partake in outdoor physical activity.

As such, the risk of muscle and ligament injuries tends to inflate during spring and summer months.

Ligaments being stretched too far usually cause these injuries, otherwise known as strains and sprains. Some of the most common ligament injuries that Dr. Ali Ghahary sees in patients at Brentwood Medical Clinic include injuries to the ankles, knees, back and wrists.

While individuals who are not used to frequent physical activity are more at risk to developing such strains and sprains, even those who are active on a regular basis can become prone to these kinds of injuries, including football players, basketball players, tennis players and other athletes.

Other risk factors of strains and sprains include fatigue, environmental factors, and poor muscle conditioning. While our muscles are designed to stretch, if stretched too far a strain can result. Similarly, sprains are also caused by ligaments being stretched beyond their limits due to their lack of elasticity.

Signs of strains and sprains include pain in the location of the injury, difficulty bending the injured area, bruising and swelling. Physicians will typically grade the severity of the injury into two separate categories: Grade 1 & 2, and Grade 3.

Grade 1 & 2 injuries are partial injuries to the ligament, whereas Grade 3 injuries are complete tears and require more extensive treatment. While pain due to strains and sprains generally only last 7 to 14 days, they are fully dependent on the intensity of the injury.

In order to ensure a quick healing process, rest in the first 24 to 48 hours after sustaining the injury is absolutely crucial and you should avoid all physical activity.

Failure to do so may result in further damage to the ligaments, thus causing further pain, so it is important to remain on bed-rest as much as possible during this time. If you are unable to do so, the use of slings, springs or crutches will be beneficial in helping along the healing process.

It is also a good idea to ice the affected area(s) for the first 48 hours in 10 or 20-minute intervals. Keeping the injured area elevated will also help to significantly reduce swelling. By not following these important steps, you may cause further damage to your body, thus putting yourself at risk for repeat injuries in the future.