Sports Injury News: Rotator Cuff Tear
In the last article we talked about prolotherapy and PRP injections, now to talk about other sports injuries such as a rotator cuff tear. When you employ R.I.C.E. to an injury, you use rest—which most times is the single most effective treatment, ice, to keep swelling down, compression, also keeps swelling down, and elevation to send the blood back to the heart and away from the injury site. This can be especially important in a rotator cuff tear situation, for example.
In her piece, Glasgow says people heal from injuries faster if they can rest; specifically resting the affected area. She says that if you injure a joint, muscle or bone in your leg, keep off the leg, and/or employ something such as crutches or a wheel chair to help take the burden off the limb.
Also, immediately place an ice pack on the site of the injury, and ice it for about twenty to thirty minutes at a time, allowing the skin time to warm back up to normal temperature in between. She says to repeat for about two hours, and adds that crushed ice can be used in a plastic baggie (doubled) or in a wet wash cloth, in place of an ice pack. When it comes to a rotator cuff tear, some folks have found Prolotherapy Injections as well as PRP injections but I like prolotherapy injection my self.
Use compression by wrapping an elastic bandage or a facsimile such as a stretchy tee shirt around the injury. Glasgow reports that binding the area this way can help prevent, or stop, internal bleeding. That was something new to me! She cautions to be sure not to apply the bandage too tightly, you don’t want to cut off circulation.
Lastly, elevate the wounded limb to enable blood to run back to the heart and out of the injury. Use a foot stool or the table to prop up a leg or pillows to prop up an arm, making sure the injured area is resting higher than the heart.
