The earlier a shoulder injury is treated, the better. The first 48 to 72 hours are crucial to a complete & speedy recovery. The first & most important course of action is the R.I.C.E. regime. REST, ICE, COMPRESSION, ELEVATION & REFERRAL. For the time-being, I'm not going to go into the specifics of the R.I.C.E.R. regime. It's a very important topic & i will go into it next month.
After the initial injury has been treated with the R.I.C.E.R. regime,(for at least 48 to 72 hours) it's time to move onto the next stage of treatment. As metioned before, the shoulder joint receives very little blood supply. So, what can you do to increase the blood flow, & oxygen & nutrients to the injured area?
Firstly, heat! Heat is extremely good for increasing blood flow to a particular area. Heat lamps are the most effective way to increase blood flow, while haet based creams are probably a distant second choice.
Secondly, massage! Massage is one of the best ways to increase blood flow to an injured area, and of course the oxygen & nutrients that go with it. The other benefit of massage is that it helps to reduce the amount of scar tissue which is associated with all muscle and tendon, strains and tears.
Lastly, don' stop moving. Some doctors will often tell patients to keep the injured area still, & this is not always the best advice. Gentle movement will help to keep the blood flowing to the injured area. Of course, if pain is present, limit the amount of moving you do, but don't stop moving all together. |
