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Sporting injuries
A fit, healthy workforce is an asset for any business. So it's good to hear that your employees are rushing off to a netball or five-aside football match for your work's team, and others are on their fifth gym visit that week or running a charity marathon. What happens though after a slip, a trip or an injury is sustained and key employees are hobbling off for x-rays or being advised to rest a foot for up to three weeks?
Whether you employ fitness fanatics or people who prefer to exercise sporadically, an injury can happen at any point; to anyone, and generally when you all least expect it. The most common injuries occur in the ankle and knee and are often due to sports activities. Knowing more about the causes of these injuries can help your employees prevent or treat them if they happen.
Ankle sprains
The most common soft tissue (ligament and muscle) injury is a sprained ankle. A sprain is when a ligament is stretched or torn. Half of all ankle sprains occur when playing sports. This can happen when changing direction quickly or jumping. Day to day mishaps, such as slipping off a pavement curb or even just walking on uneven surfaces, can cause this injury too.
If your employees seek medical attention for ankle pain, swelling or bruising, their doctor will conduct an examination and ask about the symptoms and how the injury happened. This can usually help find out which ligaments may be involved. They may also be asked to try walking. The doctor may decide that an X-ray is required to check that the bone hasn’t been damaged.
Knee injuries
Knee injuries often occur when people quickly change direction or land awkwardly during running or playing sports. Osteoarthritis, or an impact which damages the knee, can also cause injury.
The types of injury include:
- sprains
- strains (when a tendon or muscle is overstretched)
- torn cartilage (meniscus)
- bleeding in your knee joint due to a torn ligament
If your employees need to see a doctor they may be asked to try movements such as stepping or hopping. The doctor may feel for fluid in the joint by pressing gently over the kneecap, especially if the knee is not severely swollen. The doctor may decide whether or not an X-ray is needed, to check the bone isn’t broken and occasionally may order an MRI scan.
Further treatment
Over-the-counter painkillers can help to reduce pain. Some may also help reduce swelling. Painkilling creams or gels usually don’t work any better than tablets. Employees should ask their pharmacist or doctor for advice and always follow the instructions that come with all medicines. The doctor may refer your employees to a physiotherapist for ankle or knee injuries. Employees may also need advice from a sports medicine specialist if they play professional or competitive sports.
Prevention
Employees should exercise regularly to maintain fitness and strength. If they haven’t been active for a while then the intensity and regularity should be gradually increased. It may help to warm up and stretch muscles before exercising, and to cool down and stretch afterwards. Knee supports may help prevent injury but there is no evidence for this.
Self-help treatment for soft tissue injuries
All soft tissue injuries should normally receive the same immediate first aid treatment following the RICE procedure. This is something that you can pass on to your employees, however active they are.
- Rest the injury initially, then re-introduce movement so you don’t lose too much muscle strength.
- Ice packs or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel should be applied to reduce swelling and bruising. You should not apply ice directly to your skin as it can give you an “ice burn” – place a cloth between the ice and skin.
- Compress your ankle or knee by bandaging it to support the injury and help decrease swelling during the first 48 hours.
- Elevate your ankle or knee by resting your foot above the level of your hip and keep it supported.
Applying heat – eg warm baths or a hot water bottle – may be soothing. They can encourage blood flow, the opposite effect of ice, so heat treatments should normally not be used during the first two days while swelling is developing.
More detailed factsheets about sprained ankles and knee injuries are available at www.bupa.co.uk/health
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