Ligaments, muscles, tendons, nerves, bones and cartilage are some of the most commonly damaged tissues in the body. When this damage occurs, it is known as a soft tissue injury. Although it may sound harmless, a soft tissue injury can be severe and can take a long time to recover from. Here is a look at everything you need to know about this specific type of injury.
Symptoms
Symptoms will vary depending on the severity and type of tissue injury, but the most common symptoms experienced with almost any type of tissue damage are pain, swelling and bruising. In more serious cases, numbness or loss of function may also be experienced.
Causes
There are two categories of soft tissue injury: acute injuries and overuse injuries. Acute injuries are often caused by a blunt trauma. This might be from a fall, twist, or sudden blow to the body. Acute injuries include strains, sprains, and contusions.
On the other hand, overuse injuries develop gradually over time, often times due to the repetition of an activity, like typing or lifting boxes on the job. Tendinitis, or swelling of a tendon, is a common example of an overuse injury.
Management
Although caused by different factors, managing an injury as soon as possible is important no matter which tissue is affected. Following injury, stop all activity, especially if you are experiencing pain. If possible, elevate the injured area. Regardless of whether it's elevated, do not put any stress or weight on it.
To reduce swelling, ice the injury for the first 72 hours. Icing should also help with any pain. Compressing the injury with tape or a bandage is also suggested. Compression controls the bleeding of tissues that injury may cause.
A minor soft tissue injury can be treated at home, but if you experience extreme pain for more than 24 hours, then you should seek medical attention. A doctor will diagnose the type of injury and work with you on a treatment plan. To confirm a diagnosis, an MRI may be ordered because it is the best method of imaging soft tissue.
Healing Phases
There are three phases to the healing process for a soft tissue injury. First, is the inflammatory response phase immediately after the injury occurs, when pain, bleeding, and inflammation are at their worst. This phase lasts about two to four days.
The second phase is the repair phase, which occurs when your body starts to repair the injured tissues. This phase lasts up to six weeks, depending on the injury.
The third phase is the remodeling phase and lasts until about three months post-injury. During this phase, new tissue is added to help strengthen and support the healing tissue from the repair phase.
Prevention
Follow these tips in order to help reduce your chances of a soft tissue injury:
- Use and wear proper equipment for physical activity.
- Stretch before exercising.
- Stay hydrated.
- Cool down for 5-10 minutes after working instead of just stopping immediately.
