WARNING!! WARNING!!
13 August 2012
Warning, Warning, are you listening?
Your body is a very smart. If something is weak, sometimes, not all the time but sometimes it will tell you.
What are the warning signs?
Do you feel a slight pull or catch? A dull ache? Tightness?
The amount of patients I’ve seen who have told me that they got a small ache or felt it tight or just a slight catch to begin with but because it was so minor an event, they just left it and didn’t do anything about it. Then after a few days or even a few weeks, they turned the wrong way and snap, the pain is unbearable!
Unfortunately this will not happen with all injuries. I’ve seen this so common with lower back pain in which the patient felt 100% and then for no reason, their back goes on them.
We have to be very careful. When we get a warning sign, and do nothing about it, there is a chance that after months or more if the area still isn’t right, the area will be weak. This is especially common with the back.
So the question now is what do I do about it?
There are a few things. The best advice is to see a professional about it such as a physiotherapist, sports massage therapist etc but there are things you can do yourself.
Rest is key, up to a point. Now I don’t mean sitting about for a week but avoiding strenuous activity will help give the area a chance to heal.
Stretching the area is also good. Usually with these warning signs, a muscle has become too tight so a good stretch on the area will help to lengthen the muscle.
Ice/heat will also be beneficial. Ice first up to 15 minutes on fleshy areas, 5 minutes on bony areas. Heat for as long as you like. Always make sure both ice and heat is wrapped in a light clothe to stop ice/heat burns.
(Image courtesy of FreeFoto.com)