Swelling is one of the most common signs of a
Understanding the different types, causes, and when you should seek
medical attention can play an important role in the treatment of sports
injuries. Below you will find general information on this common
component of sports injury.
What Is It?
In the simplest
terms, it is a collection of fluid within a joint
or area of soft tissue. It is a result of the initial bleeding caused
by the trauma of injury, as well as an inflow of fluid in the area as a
result of the inflammatory response of the body.
is a necessary
component of inflammation, the first stage of tissue healing.
Unfortunately, our bodies tend to produce much more than what is really
needed. Controlling the initial inflammatory response and the amount of
fluid accumulation following injury is the key to starting your
recovery out on the right foot.
A swollen joint can also be an indicator of the severity of an injury,
and whether or not you may need to seek medical attention.
Edema or Effusion?
It can generally be classified as either edema, or effusion.
Edema is the general term for fluid collection that occurs outside of a
joint. For instance, a bruise is generally considered edema, as it is
outside of the joint. Effusion refers to fluid collection within a
joint. In most cases, in order to cause an effusion, there has to be
some type of trauma to structures located within the joint space.
Your family physician or certified athletic trainer
whether you have edema or an effusion, and this helps in their overall
assessment and diagnosis of your injury.
Swollen injuries generally cause pain and
discomfort, as it increases the pressure in an area. For effusions, you
may lose range of motion or moving your injured extremity may become
effective treatment is compression. Using an elastic wrap to
compress the swollen area helps to limit the amount of fluid
collection. This, along with ice, rest, and elevation are the keys to
treatment, often referred to as RICE
While swelling is a necessary component of healing, controlling it
following injury is important. If you have suffered a sports injury and
have a swollen joint or muscle, then it is generally a good idea to
seek medical attention from your family physician or certified athletic
trainer. Being aware of how quickly an injury swells can help in their
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