DO_Admin, Author at Durham Orthopedic & Sports Injury Clinic

We have all heard the term RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) when you sustain an injury, but is icing alone a good treatment for sports injuries? What is the best way to take care of your sports injuries? Injuries can come from all different types of physical activity. Joint sprains, muscle strains and ligament injuries are the most common.

Icing is found to be most beneficial within the first 24-72 hours of your injury. You want to apply ice for 15-20 minutes every 3 hours.

The Proper Icing Technique

When Icing you want to make sure you are applying ice properly to the injured area. Below are some tips on how and when to ice your sports injury.

Get ice on the injury as quickly as possible

The beneficial effects of icing decreases after 48-72 hours. Applying ice to the injury as soon as possible will drastically reduce swelling and inflammation.

Elevate

Elevating your injury above your heart is very important when icing. This not only helps to reduce inflammation it will help you recover faster.

Time

Time is very important when icing. Leaving the ice on for too long can cause tissue damage, reduce blood flow and sometimes it can even cause frostbite.

Ice vs Heat

As mentioned, you should ice as soon as you can after an injury, however heat can also be an effective treatment for injured or sore muscles.

Heat should be used for conditions that are more chronic such as an ongoing sore back,tight muscle pain or to help alleviate arthritis pain. Heat relaxes the muscles and tissues, while ice is used to reduce the inflammation.

When To Seek Professional Help

It is recommended that you should seek professional medical help if your injury is hindering your day to day abilities. Chronic pain, recurring pain and mobility issues are all valid reasons to start physical therapy. See a physiotherapist so you can start your road to recovery.

Looking to Book An Appointment?

Durham Orthopedic Sports and Injury Clinic have four physiotherapists on their staff and one massage therapist on their staff who are always able to help and treat your injuries at the source of the problem. For more information on our professionals click the link below.

Our People

Despite the fact that osteoporosis, arthritis and osteoarthritis (a form of arthritis) are completely different conditions, they are frequently confused, in particular osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, because both names start with “osteo.”

A FEW BASIC FACTS:

Osteoporosis is a bone disease in which the amount and quality of the bone is reduced, leading to fractures (broken bones). Osteoporosis produces no pain or other symptoms unless a fracture has occurred.
Arthritis (arth = joint; itis = inflammation) is a disease of the joints and surrounding tissue. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the most common forms of arthritis.
A joint is the location at which two or more bones make contact and allows for movement of the bones.
A person can have osteoporosis and osteoarthritis at the same time.
Both diseases may cause pain and limit mobility, but the cause of this pain and the way it is treated are quite different.
An accurate diagnosis of your pain is very important. With an accurate diagnosis, you will be better able to develop a pain management program that works for you.
The prefix “osteo” (which means “bone”) is the only thing that osteoporosis and osteoarthritis have in common.

	Osteoporosis	Osteoarthritis
Definition	Osteoporosis is a bone disease. The word “osteoporosis” literally means porous bones. It is a bone disorder characterized by decreased bone strength as a result of reduced bone quantity and quality. A person with osteoporosis has an increased risk of breaking a bone (fracturing) easily.	Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. It is a degenerative joint disease that involves thinning or destruction of the smooth cartilage that covers the ends of bones, as well as changes to the bone underlying the joint cartilage. Osteoarthritis produces pain, stiffness and reduced movement of the affected joint, which ultimately affects ones ability to do physical activities, reducing quality of life.
Symptoms	Osteoporosis is called “the silent thief” because it can progress without symptoms until a broken bone occurs. When bones become severely weakened by osteoporosis, simple movements – such as bending over to pick up a heavy bag of groceries or sneezing forcefully – can lead to broken bones. Hip, spine and wrist fractures are the most common fractures associated with osteoporosis.	Osteoarthritis most often affects the hips, knees, fingers (i.e., base of the thumb, tips and middle joints of the fingers), feet or spine. It affects each joint differently, and symptoms are easy to overlook. It can be painful – the pain may result from overuse of a joint, prolonged immobility or painful bony growth in finger joints.
Diagnosis	Osteoporosis is diagnosed through a bone mineral density test, a simple, painless test that measures the amount of bone in the spine and hip.	Osteoarthritis is diagnosed based on medical history, physical examination and x-rays of the affected joints. activities, reducing quality of life.
Risk Factors	The risk of osteoporosis may be reduced by becoming aware of these risk factors and taking action to slow down bone loss. Low bone mineral density is a major risk factor for fracture, the main consequence of osteoporosis. Other key risk factors include older age, prior low-trauma fracture, a history of falls and use of certain medications, such as corticosteroids (for example, prednisone). Family history of a fragility fracture is often a contributing factor.Learn more about risk factors for osteoporosis. >>	Some factors that can contribute to the development of osteoarthritis include family history, physical inactivity, excess weight and overuse or injury of joints.
Treatment	Osteoporosis can be treated with lifestyle changes and, often, the use of prescription medication. Paying attention to diet (adequate calcium and vitamin D intake) and getting regular physical activity are important lifestyle changes. Weight-bearing and strength training exercises can help to manage pain and improve the strength of bones and muscles, which helps to prevent falls. Broken hips caused by osteoporosis usually need to be repaired surgically. This can include the use of specialized “pins and plates,” but can also involve hip replacement surgery. This is determined by the surgeon based on the exact type of hip fracture that has occurred. If you have osteoporosis, there are effective medications that can reduce your risk of fracture.	Osteoarthritis can be managed with the use of joint protection (decreasing the amount of work the joint has to do), exercise, pain relief medication, heat and cold treatments, and weight control. Severe arthritis may be treated with an operation, where damaged joints are replaced with an artificial implant. Knee and hip joint replacements are commonly performed.

IF YOU HAVE BOTH DISEASES

Individuals who suffer from osteoarthritis and osteoporosis should seek help planning a program to manage both conditions and pay special attention to advice about exercise.

Regular weight-bearing exercise is usually recommended for individuals with osteoporosis, but may be difficult to follow in the presence of significant hip or knee arthritis. Keeping joints mobile requires a special approach to exercise and movement. A specially trained physiotherapist can help ensure exercises are safe and beneficial for both conditions.

WHERE TO GET HELP

ARTHRITIS

The Arthritis Society (TAS) is the leading source of information on arthritis, including osteoarthritis. For more information about arthritis, contact:

The Arthritis Society
1-800-321-1433
www.arthritis.ca.

OSTEOPOROSIS

Osteoporosis Canada (OC) is the leading source of information on osteoporosis in Canada. OC provides individuals concerned about their risk of developing this disease and those who have been diagnosed with up-to-date information on all aspects of bone health. Our information counsellors on our toll-free line (1-800-463-6842) can also help you to connect with Chapters of Osteoporosis Canada in your area.

Originally Posted By : https://osteoporosis.ca/about-the-disease/what-is-osteoporosis/osteoporosis-and-osteoarthritis/

Author: DO_Admin

Is Icing a Good Treatment For Sports Injuries?