First Aid for Sports Injuries

For most people, the remedy for pain due to a sports injury is to keep working the area where the pain is being experienced. Remember our sports coaches telling us to "Just walk if off". While it may appear to be effective in some cases, the risk of permanent injury could be even greater. As a general rule to preventing additional injury to a joint that has been hurt during a sports activity or exercise session, stopping whatever you were doing may be the the most prudent course of action. Some injuries are minor, and can be treated at home without having to spend money and time on a doctor. Here are some first aide tips for sports injuries that are minor in nature.  Alway seek professional medical care if swelling, pain, or discoloration of affected area occurs.   

The RICE method is a good approach for reducing topical swelling, speeding up healing and toning down the pain levels. Follow this Rest, Ice, Compress and Elevation approach before moving on to something else. The least amount of time to repeat this method is 48 hours.

Rest – it may be good if you confined yourself to one spot to immobilize the injured area. If that is not possible, reducing your activity levels can help. For instance, if the location of injury is the ankle, knee or joint, the use a crutch can help relieve the amount of pressure that is placed directly on the injured spot.

Ice – Ice a natural anesthesia and pain reliever. An ice pack should be placed on the injured area at least four times a day for a period of 20 minutes. Use of an ice bag or cold pack is recommended because the rate of temperature release is controlled, and there is no need to keep refilling the pack with fresh ice blocks or cubes. If you do not have any of these, use a plastic bag filled with crushed ice and wrap it in a towel. To prevent cold injury, the length of time an area is exposed to cold should be strictly checked.

Compression – compression refers to the application of uniform pressure over an area that has been injured. This helps to reduce swelling and allows the blood supply to that area to remain consistent. You should however consult with a doctor to establish which compress is suited for your type of sports injuries.

Elevation – elevation is yet another step that you can take at home to help reduce the level of swelling to an injured area. The injured area should be placed at a level that is above the level of the heart, preferably using a pillow.

The need to seek further medical intervention will depend on how well the injured site responds to first aid. There is need for immediate medical attention if;
·      The pain increases in spite of all efforts to reduce it
·      Discoloration of the affect site may indicate more serious injury to the joint, tissue or bone.
·      The extent of the injury is such that it cannot be compressed
·      The site of an old injury begins to ache
·      There is swelling at a position where an injury had occurred before. 

Remember to live life to its Fullest

Dr. Kevin Crawford

4110 22nd Place Lubbock, TX 79410

(806) 792-4329

Disclaimer:  This information is provided as an educational service, and is not intended as a substitute for medical advice.  Anyone seeking seeking specific medical advice or assistance should consult his or her doctor or orthopedic surgeon.

What's the Difference between a Broken and Sprained Ankle?

Each year in the US, over a million people visit the emergency room.  The most common injury? Sprains and Fractures. Often times, without an x-ray, the two may be difficult to distinguish one from the other. A fracture refers to to a break in or or more of the ankle bones, such as the calcaneus, tibia, talus, or fibula.  A sprain refers an injury to the ligaments due to over-stretching beyond their normal and supportable range of motion.  Both can be quite painful, and can occur from a sports injury, fall, walking / running on an uneven surface, or even just a "mis-step".

Ankle Sprain 
These can vary dramatically from levels of pain, swelling and severity, and commonly occur in athletes. The more common symptoms include sudden pain, swelling, bruising, and difficulty putting weight on it. If you feel that you have a sprain, try the RICE protocol (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation). Should the symptoms continue or get worse after a day or two, seek medical attention. If a sprain is severe enough, a patient may require Rehab Therapy to get the ankle properly and more quickly healed.

Ankle Fracture 
These can appear very similar to a sprain, and are a very common type of sports injury - whether contact or otherwise. Unlike a sprain, a broken ankle always requires professional medical attention. If after a day or two, and the application of the RICE treatment, the pain and/or swelling does not subside, seek medical attention. If after the initial injury, the ankle appears numb, weak, decreased circulation, or deformation, visit a doctor immediately.

How can I Tell the Difference? 

With sprains and breaks often having similar symptoms, it's difficult to tell the difference between the two. However, there are tell-tell signs. One of the biggest indicators is if you heard a "cracking" or "popping" sound at the time of the injury, which could be the sound of a break. Additionally, a break could have occurred f the ankle appears to be crooked or deformed or have numbness. If you cannot put weight on it and extreme pain could also indicate a break rather than a sprain. Make sure you visit your doctor and get the needed x-rays.

Risk Reduction 
Although one can never guarantee the prevention of injury during physical activities, one can reduce the risk. I all starts with a good diet that ensure sufficient vitamins and minerals. Buy good quality shoes for which ever sport you are involved with. Maintain good physical health. Lastly, ensure a good warmup before any exercise or physical activity. Properly take care of any sports injury to quickly get back to doing what you love most. 

Remember to live life to its Fullest

Dr. Kevin Crawford

4110 22nd Place Lubbock, TX 79410

(806) 792-4329

Disclaimer:  This information is provided as an educational service, and is not intended as a substitute for medical advice.  Anyone seeking seeking specific medical advice or assistance should consult his or her doctor or orthopedic surgeon.

Top 5 Most Common Orthopedic Procedures

With so many active people in the US, not to mention high school, college, and pro athletes, it's no surprise that many of us end up needing some form of Orthopedic care at times.  From a simple sprained ankle to ACL surgery, orthopedic injuries can vary greatly.  Probably the biggest reason for this is that Orthopedics deal with conditions that involve the skeletons and muscles of the human body - a pretty comprehensive field of medicine.

Even though many sports injuries may require surgery, an experienced orthopedic surgeon has a number of non-invasive techniques with which to help treat the patient. Even actual surgeries are getting so proficient these days that recovery times are decreasing - with the right rehab and after care.

Although there are countless orthopedic ailments, there are a few procedures that tend to be the most common.  

Here are the top 5 most common orthopedic surgeries:

1. KNEE:  ACL, Chondroplasty, or Meniscectomy. To examine the severity of the injury and potentially treat it, the orthopedic surgeon may elect for arthroscopy surgery.  This is a minimally invasive technique that uses an arthroscope through a small incision in the knee.  At times, the injury is so severe that the patient may need to undergo a more invasive surgical procedure for proper treatment.

2. SHOULDER ARTHROSCOPY: With the same arthroscopy option for the knee, surgeons also use it for various shoulder injuries. This minimally-invasive procedure can examine and potentially treat many shoulder injuries, such compression, rotator cuff, tendonitis, and severe sprains. 

3.  CARPAL TUNNEL: This medical condition is caused by the compression of the median nerve as it travels through the wrist at the carpal tunnel. If you've ever experienced sharp pain, tingling, or numbness in your wrist, you may have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS). There can be many causes for CTS, including improper computer keyboard use or even gamers who spend hours at a time playing their favorite video game.

4. REMOVAL OF SUPPORT IMPLANT: There are many surgical procedures that require support implants to assist in the stabilization of the injured area.  At times, and for various health reasons, an orthopedic surgeon may suggest the removal of a given support implant.

5. KNEE REPLACEMENT:  This surgical procedure is to replace the weight-bearing surfaces of the knee joint to relieve disability and paint.  Knee deterioration is mostly due to osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and  soriatic arthritis.  The good news is that knee replacement surgery has come a very long way in recent years, offering patients a new "leg up" after a successful procedure.


So, whether you are an avid sport athlete or occasional golfer, have peace of mind that you've never lived at a better time to receive expert orthopedic care.

Dr. Kevin Crawford

4110 22nd Place Lubbock, TX 79410

(806) 792-4329

Disclaimer:  This information is provided as an educational service, and is not intended as a substitute for medical advice.  Anyone seeking seeking specific medical advice or assistance should consult his or her doctor or orthopedic surgeon.