You exercise to stay healthy and work hard to keep a roof over your head. Sometimes, these activities put you in harm鈥檚 way. Managing fitness, sports and work-related injuries helps you move past injury and get back to life.听
鈥淚 think almost everyone will experience pain related to work, fitness or sports at some point in life,鈥 says听Dr. Mariam Ashraf, board-certified anesthesiologist specializing in听pain management听at AV研究所. 鈥淭hese injuries can decrease functional capacity, mobility and quality of life.鈥听
What Causes Fitness,听Sports听and Work-Related Injuries听听
Fitness,听sports听and work-related injuries come in all shapes and sizes. They also have many causes, including:听
- Overexertion.听Lifting,听pushing听or pulling heavy items at work or increasing the length or intensity of your workouts too quickly can put excess stress on your body.听听
- Repetition.听Performing repetitive movements can strain or stress specific body parts. Common overuse injuries include tennis elbow, shin splints,听听and stress fractures.听
- Sitting.听Being sedentary at work for hours at a time can weaken the body.听听
- Technique.听On the court, in the gym and at work, poor form puts your body at unnecessary risk.听听
Treating Work and Fitness Injuries听
Managing a minor fitness, sports or work-related injury often starts with over-the-counter pain medicine and RICE.听听
- Rest the injured limb.听
- Ice the hurting area for 20-minute increments, four to eight times daily.听
- Compress the injured area.听
- Elevate the injured joint or limb above heart level.听
Together, these may help relieve pain and swelling. However, you may need expert help.听
鈥Physical therapy听is听the gold standard for treating acute pain brought on by work,听fitness听or sports-related injuries,鈥 Dr. Ashraf says.听听
Along with physical therapy, you may听benefit听from other conservative treatments for overexertion,听overuse听or other injuries. Options include:听
- Acupuncture.听A trained provider inserts thin needles into the skin. This improves circulation, relaxes听muscles听and releases endorphins, chemicals that make you feel good.听
- Bracing.听Whether used on your back, knee or other body part, a brace prevents movement. This helps reduce pain. Just use it properly and for听a short period, as long-term use can lead to muscle weakness.听
- Prescriptions.听Depending on the type of pain or other symptoms you experience, you may听benefit听from prescription-strength pain pills, muscle听relaxers听or other medications.听
When pain and other symptoms persist, you may need more aggressive interventional approaches, such as injections or听surgery.听
Prevention Is Still the Best Medicine听
Before听测辞耻鈥檙别听left managing fitness,听sports听or work-related injuries, you can take steps to help prevent them.听
- Pace yourself.听Build your strength over time. As you do, start with repetition, then take on other, more strenuous tasks.听听
- Stretch.听鈥淚 think of stretching as part of daily hygiene,鈥 Dr. Ashraf says. 鈥淲e need to stretch to prevent muscle soreness and injury and pain that results from our activities and the wear and tear of daily life.鈥听
- Take frequent breaks.听Preventing overuse injuries and other pains and strains may require you to take a break. Whether you sit at a desk or have your arms overhead for extended periods throughout the day, take regular breaks. You should also rotate exercises and implement cross-training into your routine to give your muscles time to recover.听
Fast Facts: How to Be Proactive About Injuries听
If you experience fitness,听sports听or work-related injuries, managing the problem leads to reduced pain, improved听function听and quality of life.听听
- Pushing yourself too hard too fast, performing a repetitive task or using poor technique may result in workplace and fitness injuries.听
- At-home treatment often brings relief and healing. Physical therapy can help as well. If necessary, your care team may recommend more aggressive treatment, such as surgery.听
- You can exercise and work safely and effectively by taking regular breaks, stretching every听day听and gradually increasing the stress you put on your body.听听听
Want personalized tips to protect against injury and illness?听听at AV研究所 to get started.听
