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SOFT TISSUE INJURY  SOFT TISSUE INJURY

Soft Tissue Injuries

Your ligaments are tough, elastic-like bands that attach to your bones and hold your joints in place. A sprain is an injury to a ligament caused by excessive stretching. The ligament can have tears in it, or it can be completely torn apart.

Sprains occur most often in your ankles, knees or the arches of your feet. Sprained ligaments swell rapidly and are painful. Generally the greater the pain, the more severe the injury. For most minor sprains, you can probably treat the injury yourself.

Ligaments

  • Link bones together at joints

  • Hold joints steady

  • Allow movement

Tendons

  • Cord like ends of muscles

  • Link muscles to bones

  • Cross joints

Muscles

  • Attached to bones either sides of joints

  • Move bones at joints

Strain

A stretch, tear or complete rupture of a muscle or tendon. Strains are classified as:

First – minor tear of muscle tissue and minimal inflammation with small amount of exudes

Second - larger tear of muscle tissue and noticeable inflammation and amount of exudes

Third - complete tear of muscle tissue and significant inflammation and amount of exudes

Sprain

        sprained ankle

A stretch, tear or complete rupture of a ligament. This results in pain and swelling around a joint and may result in the joint being unstable. Sprains are classified as:

First – minor tear of a ligament and minimal inflammation with small amount of exudes

Second - larger tear of a ligament and noticeable inflammation and amount of exudes

Third - complete tear of a ligament and significant inflammation and amount of exudes

Symptoms

  • Pain

  • Swelling

  • Bruising

complete tear of arm muscle 
          requiring surgery

Management

  • R - REST and reassure the casualty

  • I - ICE: Apply for 15 minutes, may be reapplied every 2 hours for the first 48 hours

  • C - COMPRESSION: bandage firmly with an elastic bandage  - see figure 8 bandage

  • E - ELEVATE: Support the injury

  • R - REFERRAL: Send to a health specialist

Call for emergency medical assistance if:

  • You heard a popping sound when your joint was injured, or you can't use the joint. This may mean the ligament was completely torn apart. On the way to the doctor, apply a cold pack.

  • You have a fever, and the area is red and hot. You may have an infection.

  • You have a severe sprain. Inadequate or delayed treatment may cause long-term joint instability or chronic pain.

  • You aren't improving after the first two or three days.

 

Figure 8 Bandage

 

Remember

  • AVOID HEAT

  • AVOID MASSAGE