Treatment options

Minor sports injuries should be treated with the PRICE technique for 48 hours after the injury: 

• Protect the area from further injury, perhaps by immobilising it. For example, using a sling for a sprained wrist
• Rest by cutting out exercise and minimising daily activities that involve the affected area as much as possible. For example, not walking with an injured knee. Supportive measures such as crutches or a sling may be helpful
• Ice the area for 15-20 minutes every two to three hours. Avoid ice burns by wrapping ice packs in a cloth so the skin isn’t touched directly
• Compress the area with bandages to limit swelling and prevent further damage. Tubular bandages can be used for this purpose, but take care not to apply the bandage so tightly that it restricts blood circulation 
• Elevate the injured area above the level of the heart if possible, to reduce blood flow and minimise swelling. 

Depending on the type of injury, it can take anything from days to a few months or more to make a full recovery. Following the steps outlined above for a couple of days is usually enough to resolve most minor injuries.