Athletic Injury Myths Busted

Athletic Injury Myths Busted

Injuries and sports go hand in hand but what should you do to get back into action after an injury faster? And, more importantly, what should you avoid? We have busted some sports injury myths you may have heard of!

Heat on a Sprain A sprained ankle is a common sports injury and many people have the notion that heat will do the trick. This is actually not the case. To treat a sprained ankle, apply ice, not heat. Just remember the acronym RICE (rest, ice, compress, elevate) the next time you injure yourself. If the pain and swelling worsens, go and see your doctor.

Relocating a Dislocated Shoulder If you have dislocated your shoulder or any other body part, a simple snap will not automatically put the joint back in place, regardless of what television shows and movies suggest. Just ice the injury asap and seek emergency attention immediately (either ring 000 or head to the nearest hospital emergency department for treatment).

Peroxide for Cuts and Scrapes Taken a tumble while playing sport and cut yourself? Not only is applying peroxide painful, but it can also kill the body’s cells that are rushing to fend off the intruding bacteria – it is a very outdated treatment for cuts! For scrapes and cuts just clean with water, apply antiseptic ointment and cover with a non-adhesive dressing. If treating a little one, a kiss can also make it all better!

Running off Shin Splints Running away the pain of shin splints is incorrect and can cause further injury. Shin splints, or medical tibial stress syndrome, occurs when the muscle attached to the shinbone is tearing lose. If this occurs, usually after  long and intensive periods of exercise, then it’s time to take a break from sports and exercise for a while. If the pain continues, see your doctor.

Paper Bag Breathing Rapid breathing often occurs after exercising intensely or during a panic attack. If hyperventilation (or breathing rapidly) happens, breathing into a brown paper bag will not slow down the breathing rate. Instead, you should try to calm the person down and have them concentrate on taking slow, deep breaths. If the condition worsens, call 000 or head to your nearest emergency department.

Popping a Blister Do you get blisters on your feet after playing lots of sports? Don’t pop them!! You may feel relief for a few moments by popping a blister but this will not speed up recovery. Popping a blister will expose the skin which can be even more painful and also lead to infection. Simply put a band aid over the blister and refrain from popping.

Avoid Sleep After a Concussion Been hit in the head with a ball or fallen off your bike and whacked your head? Many people assume that keeping the injured person awake will somehow stop the injury from worsening. There is nothing wrong with falling asleep after a head injury. You should definitely keep a close eye on them following a head injury, wake them up periodically to check their level of consciousness and be sure to seek medical attention to any blow to the head, just in case.

Put Your Head Between Your Legs if Faint This is another misconception made more public due to movies and television. Instead, all you need to do is lie down and raise your legs to increase the blood flow to the brain.

A Raw Steak with a Serving of Black EyeA raw steak will do nothing to soothe the pain and the swelling of a black eye – it’s just gross! Instead of wasting a perfectly good piece of meat, opt for something cold to put on your black eye, such as an ice pack!

For more information on first aid and how to correctly treat sports injuries, read this article on sports injuries on the Better Health Channel or go to the St John Ambulance First Aid website.

If you or your child experiences any worsening symptoms after sustaining an sports injury please seek immediate medical attention we have some hotlines and suggested websites for further information and advice  https://www.stayathomemum.com.au/my-kids/babies/important-hotlines-websites/

SAHM takes no responsibility for any illness, injury or death caused by misuse of this information.  All information provided is correct at time of publication.