Athletic Training ProgramAthletic Training Program

Injury Tips

 

These tips are to help you in properly treating an injury, but should NOT replace seeing an athletic trainer. When an injury occurs, make sure to let your coach and ATC know!

 

RICE principle – After an initial injury occurs

  1. Rest – the athlete should stay off of the injured body part. The athletic trainer may give some simple exercises and instructions or give crutches or a sling to wear to allow the injured area to rest.
  2. Ice – ice for 20 minutes at a time (10-15 minutes for fingers and toes) and repeat every hour or so as needed or directed by the athletic trainer
  3. Compression – To help reduce swelling, wrapping an elastic bandage around an injured area (or something more simple like a snug fitting sock) can help reduce swelling
  4. Elevation – The injured body part should be elevated above the level of the heart to help reduce swelling.

 

Cuts, bumps, and bruises

  1. Clean the cut with warm soapy water, dry, and place a bandaid over it. If it is a small cut, an anti-biotic ointment can be put on cut to help the healing. Take the bandaid off in the evening – do not leave it on more than a day. This can irritate the skin
  2. If the cut does not stop bleeding, apply direct pressure for several minutes. If it still does not stop, and the cut looks deep, and you are at school, send the person to the athletic trainers. If at home, send to the doctor or emergency department. It may need stitches.
  3. For bumps and bruises, apply ice for 20 minutes at a time. If swelling continues to increase, pain continues, and the body part can not be moved, have the injury evaluated by the athletic trainer. It may be a more significant injury such as a fracture.
  4. If a cut or bruise does not seem to be healing properly (redness increases, fluid or pus discharge from wound, swelling, tenderness) have it evaluated by the ATCs.