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Treatment of Sports injuries

Sprains and other damage to the muscles or ligaments can be treated with RICE therapy.  This stands for:

• Rest - two days (48 hours) of rest is recommended.
• Ice - apply an ice pack to the area for between 10 and 30 minutes.  The ice must not directly touch the skin as this may cause a cold burn.
• Compression - compression bandages can be used to limit swelling and movement.
• Elevation - raise the leg or arm to an elevated but comfortable height to reduce swelling.

After 48 hours, movement of the area should be attempted, and compression stopped.  Heat and massage can be used to increase blood flow and physiotherapy may be required to restore full use of the arm or leg.

Pain relief (analgesics) such as paracetamol may be used in conjunction with anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce swelling and provide relief from the pain of sprains and fractures.  Anti-inflammatory medicines include cortisone injections.  These are local steroid injections which have a high success rate for reducing swelling and relieving the symptoms of muscle and ligament damage.

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