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 (e.g. not walking with an injured knee). Supportive measures such as crutches or a sling may be helpful
• Ice the area for 15 to 20 minutes every two to three hours, avoiding ice burns by wrapping ice packs in cloth so the skin isn’t touched directly
• Compress the area with bandages to limit swelling and prevent further damage. Tubular bandages are usually used for this purpose, but the customer’s measurements should be checked to ensure the item fits correctly
• 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.

Did you know?

There are four types of synovial joints in the body responsible for sporting techniques: hinge, ball and socket, pivot and condyloid.