Introduction
Acute and Chronic are words that are commonly used in the Sports Therapy world. They are how we categorise an injury. The terms can be used for different reasons. Acute can be used to describe an injury that has occurred suddenly, through a significant trauma as well as an injury that has been apparent for 3 months or less. Chronic is the word given to injuries that occur more through overuse/overloading as well as problem areas that have been around for 3 months or more.
The Signs
Chronic
Pain when performing an activity
A dull ache at rest
Minimal relief with pain medication
Constant pain that has been around for a while
Heat or swelling after an activity or loading the area
Acute
Sudden and severe pain
Swelling
Tenderne
Limited range of movement
Weakness
Visual deformities
Both types of injuries hold their advantages and disadvantages when it comes to injury and pain management.
Chronic injuries, that have been around for many months can be stubborn and persistent. Us, as humans, are creatures of habit that once pain and adaptations around pain are learnt, movements of compensation and guarding can become second nature to us.
That said, acute injuries that have just occurred can be incredibly painful and treatment to the area while in the first 7-10 days can sometimes be impossible. Inability to determine what is true limitations or insufficiencies are masked through sheer inflammation and response to injury.
Nonetheless, chronic injuries hold a higher tolerance for corrective movement and manipulation to be attempted and acute injuries that are assessed and treated quickly, following the presence of inflammation, have the best rate of recovery and end results.
Management
Chronic
When pain occurs or is worse than ‘normal’ anti-inflammatories can help ease these symptoms.
Sports Therapy can help by assessing the area, noting limitations and weaknesses, provide treatment as well as prescribe rehabilitation to the area to slowly begin the recovery process.
Consider getting stronger, to reduce the likelihood of reinjury due to muscular fatigue and weakness. This will reduce the onset of muscular tightness and spasming.
Acute
Apply ice to the injured area. This vasoconstricts the blood vessels reducing the flow of blood and swelling to the area. Doing this for the first 48-72hrs of injury will be advantageous.
Where possible elevate the area to reduce the accumulation of swelling.
Avoid anti-inflammatories initially, our body needs the inflammatory response for healing the acute, new injury and medication can hinder this process.
I wanted to keep this week’s blog shot and easy to read. Quick fire bullet points and snippets of advice can make the delivery of information easy to digest! I hope you found this helpful and thank you for taking the time to read.
Have a great weekend!
Liv
BSc Hons Sports Therapy MSST
MSc Strength and Conditioning
07761887778
@injuryrecoverycentre
References
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