Taking the right measures |
 |  | Translated by Marta Campbell |
 |
10.06.2024 12:00 Uhr |
There is general agreement that it is advisable to temporarily immobilise the injured limb immediately after an injury. Applying light pressure to the injured area (compression) should minimise and stabilise bleeding and swelling. Patients can apply (or have applied) an elasticated pressure bandage for this purpose. Elevation means that the affected part of the body is positioned higher than the heart. This improves the return flow of blood and any fluid that has escaped into the tissue can be removed more quickly.
After the acute phase, it has a positive effect on the healing process if the damaged part of the body does not remain inactive for too long. For this reason, patients should start with pain-adapted movement as soon as possible, paying attention to the signals from their body and not overdoing it.
PTA can offer various remedies to alleviate the symptoms and support healing. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) taken orally, such as ibuprofen or diclofenac, reliably relieve musculoskeletal pain. However, the systemic absorption of the active ingredients is associated with side effects, for example in the gastrointestinal tract. In the case of ambitious athletes, the pharmacy team can question whether they want to take the analgesics in order to continue training despite the injury. Pain is a warning signal from the body and should prompt the athlete not to aggravate the injury any further.
The combination of oral NSAIDs and high physical exertion also increases the risk of kidney damage and gastrointestinal bleeding. For many muscle injuries, the painkiller does not need to be taken orally and a local therapy can also achieve an effect. Ointments and gels containing diclofenac or ibuprofen are generally well tolerated. However, skin irritations such as dryness, contact dermatitis and itching can occur as a local side effect. Many patients find that massaging the gel into the skin is soothing and relaxing. Gels also score points for their immediate cooling effect.
| Deutsch/German | Englisch/English |
|---|---|
| Akutphase | acute phase |
| Aufwärmen | warm up |
| Bluterguss | haematoma |
| Blutung | bleeding, haemorrhage |
| Faserriss | fibre tear |
| Heilung | healing |
| Hüftgelenk | hip joint |
| Juckreiz | itching |
| Kniegelenk | knee joint |
| Kontaktfermatitis | contact dermatitis |
| Muskel | muscle |
| Muskelfaser | muscle fibre |
| Oberschenkel | thigh, femur |
| Prellung | bruise |
| Schwellung | swelling |
| Verletzung | injury |
| Wade | calf |
| Wunde | wound |
| Zerrung | strain, strained muscels |
