Healing An Injury - Minnesota Sports Medicine

Healing An Injury

The body is an amazing machine: from ankle sprain to muscle strain, it begins to heal itself from the moment an injury occurs. Understanding this remarkable process can help athletes and non-athletes alike take steps to recover more quickly from injury.

An injury triggers a chain of events, some of which are visible, others of which are not. Bleeding, inflammation, pain, muscle spasms, swelling, bruising and loss of function are among the visible signs of injury. They are also signs that the body is hard at work healing itself.

Inflammation is one of the most important links in this chain because it helps to prepare tissues for healing. Inflammation is the body's protective response to an injury or irritation. Signs of inflammation include warmth at the injury site, redness, swelling and pain. While always present, inflammation symptoms vary in degree and severity; some may be barely detectable.

Less visible steps to healing occur at the cellular level. White blood cells move to the injured area and begin to clear damaged tissue. These cells are the body's natural trash removers. They break down tissue so that it can be removed from the area via the blood stream and the lymphatic system, the body's vehicle for ridding itself of unneeded debris.

Within five hours of injury, other changes occur to draw nutrients and oxygen to the injured area. Collagen, a connective tissue that holds injured tissue together, begins to form a protective scar. New blood vessels begin to grow, creating a network of capillaries that bring the rich healing properties of blood and oxygen to damaged tissue.

Barriers to Recovery
While the body works quickly to heal, certain barriers may slow recovery. Diabetes or improper nutrition slow healing. Deficiencies in vitamins A and C, as well as zinc, a mineral, hinder healing. On the other hand, excess amounts of these vitamins and mineral will not promote or speed up healing. If inflammation is not resolved or the injury continues to be irritated, normal healing will not occur. Swelling or irritation can reduce function of the affected area or reduce range of motion.

Move Quickly to Recover Faster
Quick action following injury helps to promote healing. Sports medicine specialists at the Minneapolis Sports Medicine Center recommend following the “R.I.C.E.” method of injury treatment: rest, ice, compression and elevation. Ice helps to decrease the damaged tissue's initial need for oxygen and blood. Compression reduces the amount of bleeding and swelling. Elevation above the heart helps to move damaged tissue out of the injured area and reduces the severity of bleeding and swelling. Rest decreases risk of further irritation or injury.

Understanding the way the body reactions to injury and knowing what steps to take to promote healing can aid in a faster recovery. The result will be a return to activity with minimal risk of re-injury.

For more information, call the Minnesota Sports Medicine at 612-273-4800.