Bhakti Paun Sharma
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Written By: Bhakti Paun Sharma | Updated : September 23, 2015 9:19 AM IST
You have heard of the RICE therapy for managing sports-related injuries and for sprains and strains. Another acronym introduced by sports injury management experts to handle an injury and avoid complications is HARM. Here s what it stands for:
Heat: Avoid applying any heat or hot compress on injuries. Heat tends to increase the blood flow and thereby increase the swelling, which can slow down the process of recovery. Avoid hot water baths or soaking the injured part in hot water or saunas for 48 to 72 hours post injury.
Alcohol: Avoid alcohol for the first 24-48 hours. Consuming alcohol may mask the pain and delay the treatment in case of severe injury. In case of minor injuries, alcohol will delay the healing as it increases the swelling and bleeding of the injury.
Running: Any form of exercise is a strict no-no for 48-72 hours. The injured area needs rest to recover and running or any form of exercise would do more harm and aggravate the situation. Consult your doctor before you get back to any sport.
Massage: Massaging an ointment to the injured part is a strict no-no. Even the instructions on it indicate that it needs to be applied and not massaged. Massaging the injured area must be avoided as it increases bleeding and causes swelling. Massaging the area around the injured part may provide relief but must be avoided up to 72 hours.
So next time you are injured, avoid further HARM to your injury by avoiding any of these.
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