Acute joint and muscle injuries can be very painful, cause swelling and heat in the area, and can also cause painful muscle spasm. If you are unlucky enough to injure yourself on the slopes this winter, here are some helpful tips to guide you through the first 24-48 hours following injury.<\/p>\n
1. Remain Calm<\/strong> 2. Get to Safety and\/or Get Help!<\/strong> 3. Get RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation)<\/strong> REST ICE COMPRESSION ELEVATION 4. Analgesia and Rest<\/strong> 5. Slippery Slope<\/strong> 6. Get it Checked<\/strong> Acute joint and muscle injuries can be very painful, cause swelling and heat in the area, and can also cause painful muscle spasm. If you are unlucky enough to injure yourself on the slopes this winter, here are some helpful tips to guide you through the first 24-48 hours following injury. 1. Remain Calm Injuries […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2716,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\nInjuries that occur on the slopes are usually fast, and unexpected! It\u2019s normal to feel shocked, and emotional on top of the pain experienced at the sit of injury. Try to remain calm, take some deep breaths to clear your head, then focus on getting help.<\/p>\n
\nIf you are in the middle of a busy slope it\u2019s important to get to safety. You don\u2019t need anyone bumping into you after injury, and equally you can risk injuring others if you are stopped in the middle of a slope. Get to the side of the slope if possible. If you are unable to stand, ride, or walk to the edge \u2013 put your hands up and flag down a passer-by for some help. Attention the medic or ask someone to call one.<\/p>\n
\nMost acute injuries benefit from using the RICE method to control pain and swelling in the first 48- 72 hours post-injury.<\/p>\n
\nTake it easy, but don\u2019t stop moving the affected area completely. Move as much as you can tolerate, but don\u2019t force painful movements \u2013 this will help the injured tissue to repair. Enjoy a cup of hot chocolate and relax!<\/p>\n
\nAs soon as possible apply ice wrapped in a damp towel to the injured area. Leave it there for 15-20 minutes and repeat 4-8 times daily for at least 48 hours. You cannot do this too much!<\/p>\n
\nUse elastic wrap or a bandage to apply compression to the injured area. If you experience throbbing, tingling, numbness, or blue looking skin in the area then the compression is too tight!! Remove it and re-wrap with less pressure. Do not use compression at night as you cannot monitor the area while asleep.<\/p>\n
\nWhen it comes to swelling, gravity is not your friend! Keep the injured area elevated while resting, aiming to have it higher than your heart. This will limit and help to reduce swelling. Use pillows during the day or night to support the injured area.<\/p>\n
\nTake some simple pain-relieving medication. Using pain-relief will allow you to move more freely, get some restful sleep, and can prevent secondary injury. If you are unsure which medication to take, or are unsure if a medication is safe for you \u2013 consult the medic or a doctor.<\/p>\n
\nDon\u2019t be tempted to resume skiing or snowboarding if you have not fully recovered! This is a slippery
\nslope and something many people do to avoid missing out on time enjoying the sport or their holiday \u2013 be warned that it usually ends in further injury or prolonged recovery!<\/p>\n
\nIf your injury is not improving, is slow to recover, or you are concerned about it for any reason \u2013 get
\nprofessional advice from a physiotherapist or doctor. Queenstown Physio offers appointments Monday to Friday in
\nQueenstown and Frankton with a team of experienced physiotherapists \u2013 give us a call or book online.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"