Content
First aid in sport is mainly related to muscle injuries, injuries and fractures. Knowing how to act in these situations and what to do so that the condition does not worsen, because in cases of fractures, for example, an unnecessary movement can worsen the degree of bone damage.
Another recurring situation during the practice of sports is the appearance of cramps, which are involuntary contractions of the muscles, which can occur in the legs, arms or feet. Cramps can happen due to dehydration or muscle fatigue for example, but they are easily treated with stretching and rest. See which exercises done at home help eliminate cramps.
1. Muscle injury
First aid for muscle injuries in sports helps to reduce pain and help the person not need to leave the practice for a long time. However, muscle injury is divided into categories, such as stretches, bruises, dislocations, sprains and sprains. All of these injuries damage the muscle to some degree and, in some cases, it is necessary for a doctor to assess the degree of the injury, but in most cases recovery does not take long and leaves no sequelae.
First aid in muscle damage include:
- Sit or lie the person down;
- Place the injured part in the most comfortable position. If it is a leg or an arm, the limb can be raised;
- Apply a cold compress to the lesion for a maximum of 15 minutes;
- Firmly wrap the affected area with bandages.
In certain cases in sports, when muscle injuries occur, the muscles can become inflamed, stretched or torn. It is recommended to see a doctor if the pain continues for more than 3 days.
See how other ways to relieve muscle pain at home.
2. Injuries
Skin wounds are one of the most common in sports, and are divided into two types: closed skin wounds and open skin wounds.
In closed skin wounds the skin color changes to a red that in a few hours can darken to purple spots. In these cases it is indicated:
- Apply cold compresses over the area for 15 minutes, twice a day;
- Immobilize the affected region.
In cases of open skin lesions, more care is recommended, as there is a risk of infections due to skin breakdown and bleeding. In these cases, you should:
- Wash the wound and the surrounding skin with soap and water;
- Put an antiseptic solution such as Curativ or Povidine on the wound and around it;
- Apply a sterile gauze or bandage or band-aid until the wound heals.
If the wound still hurts, swells, or is very hot, a doctor should be consulted. Check out the 5 steps to heal a wound faster.
In case of perforation with a pen, piece of iron, wood or any other object, do not remove them, due to the risk of bleeding.
3. Fractures
A fracture is a break or crack in a bone, which can be opened when the skin is torn, or internal, when the bone breaks but the skin does not tear. This type of accident causes pain, swelling, abnormal movement, instability of the limb or even deformity, so one should not pick up the victim and it is very important to wait for the ambulance so that the victim receives medical care as soon as possible.
Some signs that help to identify a fracture are:
- Severe localized pain;
- Total loss of mobility in the limb;
- Presence of deformation in the skin of the region;
- Exposure of bone through the skin;
- Change of skin color.
If a fracture is suspected, it is recommended:
- Immediately call an ambulance, calling 192;
- Do not put any pressure on the fracture area;
- In case of open fracture, wash with saline;
- Do not make unnecessary movements in the limb;
- Immobilize the fractured part while waiting for the ambulance.
Usually, treatment for fractures, whether open or closed, is done by total immobilization of the fractured limb. The treatment period is long, and in some cases it can reach up to 90 days. Find out what the fracture recovery process is like.
Created by: Tua Saúde Editorial Team
Bibliography>
- MSD MANUAL. Muscle cramps. Available in: . Accessed on 21 Jul 2020
- Nelson Teixeira Baptista. First Aid Manual. 3rd ed. Sintra, 2012. p 135-157.
- Interprev. Training Manual: First Aid in the Workplace. 1. ed. Portugal: 2015. p. 0 - 33.