How do you know if your injury is serious?
Warning signs!

Trying to determine if your injury is serious is not easy. Your body, however, does a pretty good job of sending out warning signs. It is up to you to recognize them. Here are a few helpful pointers to help guide you.

1. Location of injury; most injuries occur to the joints especially to the knee and ankle. However injuries can occur to any part of your body. If your pain lasts for more than 48 hours, see a doctor. 
2. Tenderness; Localized tenderness or bruising is a sign of an injury. Always compare the area to the same spot on the other limb to ensure the tenderness is not a normal feeling on both sides.
3. Inflammation; can appear almost immediately or develop up to 48 hours following injury. Inflammation will cause swelling, pain, stiffness, redness, discoloration and localized heat and is usually a strong indicator of a significant injury.
4. Range of motion; the ability to move the injured area is also a very strong indicator. Limited joint function and pain during movement all point to a more serious injury. For weight-bearing joints like the hip, knee or ankle, if you can’t apply pressure or the area can’t bear weight it’s a sign of a serious injury.
5. Numbness and tingling; is usually a sign of a nerve injury due to compression from swelling of nearby tissues (e.g. lumbar disc, Carpel tunnel syndrome, tendonitis). It is recommended to consult your physician for these types of symptoms.

So what do you do if you suffer an injury? First and foremost, you need to begin immediate treatment of the injury to limit swelling and pain. The RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation) concept is the most commonly used immediate treatment.  However it should be RICED with the “D” referring to a visit to your doctor.

These tips will help you recognize the severity of an injury. Treating it promptly and effectively will prevent it from getting worse and set you on the road to recovery and a return to normal activity and pain-free sport.