Soft tissue injuries

Participating in sports and physical fitness activities, as well as simple everyday activities can lead to soft tissue damage of ligaments, tendons and muscles. These injuries may be the result of a single episode or as a result of repeated overuse. The result can be pain, swelling, bruising and damage to underlying structures of soft tissues.

Soft tissue injuries are classified as:

Sprains

A sprain is a partial or complete tear of a ligament. The joints of our body are supported by ligaments – strong bands of connective tissue that connect one bone to another. The areas most vulnerable to sprains are our ankles, knees and wrists. Most simple sprains heal with R.I.C.E. (rest, ice, compression and elevation). Moderate sprains may also require a short period of bracing. In the instances of more severe sprains, such as a torn ligament, surgery may be required.

As a person ages, various joints, including the spine, tend to lose flexibility. This can lead to episodes of sudden back pain caused by certain movements. The best way to avoid these episodes is a daily exercise programme for stretching various joints.

Strains

A strain is an injury to a muscle or tendon. What makes one strain more serious than another depends on how much of the muscle is damaged and how close the tear is to the end of the muscle. Muscles are stronger in the middle, (where they are thicker) than they are at the ends, where they narrow and attach to ligaments or tendons. The body reacts to strains by shortening the muscle to keep it from tearing again. As the body attempts to heal itself, damaged muscle will be replaced with scar tissue, which lacks flexibility. When treating strains, one of the aims is to keep scar tissue formation to a minimum so that the muscle retains maximum flexibility. Treatment for a strain is usually R.I.C.E. (rest, ice, compression and elevation), followed by light exercise to relieve pain and restore mobility. For a serious tear, surgery may be required.

Muscle de-conditioning can be a source of back pain in people who lead a very sedentary life style. Muscles are important stabilising forces for the spine, and weak muscles can be strained during activities of daily living. An exercise programme for flexibility and muscle strengthening is the best way to avoid such episodes of back pain.

Contusions

A contusion, or bruise, is the result of a blunt force such as a kick, fall or blow. A contusion damages the tissue cells and capillaries. The greater the force, the greater the tissue damage. If the blow is over a bony area, the bone may also be contused. Blood from the broken vessels accumulates in surrounding tissues, producing pain, swelling and tenderness.

Most mild contusions respond well to R.I.C.E (rest, ice, compression and elevation). If symptoms persist, medical care should be sought.

Tendinitis

An inflammation in a tendon or the tendon covering is called tendinitis. This occurs as a result of injury or overuse, as the tendon loses some of its elasticity. It may also be involved in systemic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. The injury could occur with any tendon, but some commonly affected sites are the shoulder, wrist, heel and the elbow. Tendinitis produces pain, tenderness and stiffness near a joint and is aggravated by movement.

Bursitis

Inflammation or irritation of the bursa is known as bursitis. A bursa is a small sac filled with fluid. It’s located between a bone and other moving structures such as muscles, skin or tendons, and it allows the tendon to slide smoothly over the bone. The function of a bursa is to decrease friction between two surfaces that move in different directions.

The triggers of bursitis may be repeated physical activity, trauma, rheumatoid arthritis, gout or infection, but it can also flare up for no known reason.

Symptoms of bursitis are pain and stiffness aggravated by movement. Pain may be prominent at night. Almost any tendon or bursa in the body can be affected, but those located around a joint are affected