How many times have you or someone you know experienced a twisted ankle or wrist while lifting weights or exercising?
Gym injuries, or injuries sustained when exercising at a gym, are fairly prevalent among fitness buffs.
"Injuries while working out are common Consultant and Head, Physiotherapy at Sitaram Bhartia Hospital. "What we need to do is pay attention to our body's needs and not overlook prolonged pain in any part of our body."
"It's critical to determine the origin of an acquired gym injury and thoroughly examine the affected area because you never know how badly you've hurt yourself." A thorough physical examination can reveal how much damage has been done to the concerned muscles or joints."
Many muscles and ligaments in our bodies are linked to working out or exercising. A gym injury can occur if any of these are harmed or traumatised.
"The most common cause of gym injuries is overuse of a muscle group. We don't always realise that we're putting greater pressure on a body area than it can normally tolerate."
However, the reason you got a gym injury is usually determined by the type of damage.
There are four different sorts of gym injuries that people can get:
Injuries caused by overuse
The most prevalent type of injury is overuse, which occurs when a muscle group is subjected to excessive and repetitive stress. that repeatedly applying stress on a physical component creates harm to the muscles, tendons, cartilage, ligaments, and bones present.
There are a few things that can raise your risk of getting an overuse injury while exercising
"You are more likely to suffer an overuse injury if you exercise with poor posture or if you exercise frequently without giving your body parts enough time to recuperate after a training session." It can also happen if you only train one group of muscles while neglecting to train the opposing group."
Injuries caused by trauma
Trauma injuries occur when any portion of the body is struck by a powerful blunt force, such as a kick, tumble, or strike. Contusions, bruising, and concussions result from the trauma's impact on soft tissue.
"In this type of injury, you will see swelling and discoloration in the body part that has been hit, followed by discomfort
Sprains and Strains are two different types of injuries.
How many times have you overheard your gym buddy complaining about an ankle sprain?
While getting a sprain or strain while exercising is fairly common, the two are not the same.
A sprain is a ligament stretch or tear. "Ligaments are flexible bands of fibrous fibres that connect bones to bones, bones to joints, and bones to cartilage. A sprain occurs when they are ripped or stretched, most commonly in the ankles, knees, and wrists."
A strain, on the other hand, happens when a muscle is harmed as a result of a pull or twist. This form of injury can occur when people do not sufficiently warm up or stretch their bodies before working out.
"You can also strain your back while jogging or lifting weights."
The following are some of the most frequent strains you may encounter while working out at the gym:
Fractures and dislocations of the runner's knee
When a bone breaks as a result of a strong hit or a fall, it is known as a fracture. "Repeatedly placing pressure on a particular body part can also cause microscopic cracks in the bone." Stress fractures are what these are called.
Dislocation, on the other hand, occurs when the ends of two related bones separate from one another. This occurs when the ligament is struck by a strong force or a blow.
Now that we know how and why we could get gym injuries when working out, tell us what course of action we should do in that situation.
Before going into treatment choices, it's crucial to understand when you should consult a physiotherapist.
"When you develop a gym injury, "you are most likely to have some discomfort, swelling, sensitivity, or discoloration in the specific area." Restricted movement may also cause your muscles in that area to become uncomfortable or stiff."
"However, it's crucial to note that while muscular stiffness after working out is common, when that stiffness escalates into discomfort or inflammation, it's best to see a doctor right once."
The PEACE and LOVE treatment plans are the most common ones used to address gym injuries.
P stands for "protection."
During the first several days after an injury, avoid activities and motions that cause pain.
E stands for Elevation.
Elevating the afflicted body part above your heart level aids in the drainage of fluids from that area. This aids in the reduction of edoema and, as a result, pain.
Anti-inflammatories should be avoided at all costs.
Anti-inflammatory medicines should be avoided because they can slow down the healing process.
Compression is represented by the letter C.
Wrap a bandage around the wounded region to apply pressure. Wrap it tightly, but not too tightly, since this may prevent blood flow to that location.
E stands for education.
Patients should be appropriately educated about their injuries and how to treat them by physiotherapists.
Start using LOVE within a few days of receiving the injury.
L stands for Loading.
Allow your discomfort to lead you, and load the damaged area appropriately to avoid aggravating the problem. This aids in the repair procedure.
Optimism is represented by the letter O.
Think optimistically and be confident that your injuries will get well soon to prepare your brain for optimal recovery.
The letter V stands for Vascularisation.
Increase blood flow to the damaged area by performing cardiovascular workouts that do not aggravate the condition.
E stands for "exercise."
Light workouts, including the affected area, should be done. This aids in the development of strength and mobility in that area.
Here are a few pointers to help you avoid getting hurt when exercising:
Regular exercise, such as going to the gym, is unquestionably beneficial to our health. Exercise keeps us healthy and helps us avoid ailments. However, we must ensure that we do it correctly in order to avoid harming our bodies.