Ankle sprains most often involve tears of one or more of the ligaments along the outside of the ankle.  Knee ligaments can also be torn.

An acute twisting or overextension of a joint can lead to tears of muscles and tendons, called “strains,” and tears of ligaments result in “sprains.”  These tears range from mild to severe.

In mild injuries, just a few fibers are torn or stretched.  Severe injuries, where there is a tear through the fill thickness of the structure, frequently require surgical intervention.

The intervertebral disc, a ligament between the vertebrae of the spine that works as a shock absorber, can also be torn, resulting in a disc bulge and/or herniation.

Source:  Copied from ACAnews – August 2010, article by Lawrence H. Wyatt, DC, DACBR, FICC 
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Ice is a form of therapy that can be done at home, and is extremely useful in the event of acute injury (< 36 hours).  Ice functions as a natural anti-inflammatory.  Ice works to decrease swelling, and decrease the release of inflammatory agents that occur during injury.  Ice can also work to numb the area of injury and slow the nerves transmission of pain signals.  When there is inflammation to an area, ice is usually a good option.

There are dangers to the use of ice.  Keeping ice on the area of injury for too long can be harmful.  Ice can burn the skin if kept on too long.  When ice is applied to an area of injury, the numbing effect caused by the ice, can prevent someone from noticing that there skin is actually burning. This is why using ice on a burn is not recommended, even though inflammation is present.  Ice can make the burn worse.    When using ice a towel should be applied under the ice pack, to keep the skin from getting burned.

When using ice as a therapy, it should be applied for no more than 20 minutes.  Twenty minutes is the amount of time that is recommended for using ice therapy.  It is advised to wait at least one hour, after 20 minutes of ice therapy, before ice is reapplied.

 It is also important to remember that inflammation is not always a bad thing.  Inflammation is the body’s attempt to increase blood flow to an area of injury.  Allowing blood to flow to the area is important because your blood brings oxygen and many other nutrients which help the area heal.  This is why, for chronic injuries, “heat” therapy may be a better option than ice.  Heat increases blood flow, and helps aid in the healing process.  

When considering whether to use ice or heat on an area it is important to ask a medical professional for their advice.  Following these rules can help in the decision process - of whether to ice, or not to ice.
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Many people think of fishing as a relaxing past time, or a time for peace and quiet on the lake.  Anglers should beware, however, of the dreaded “fisher’s elbow.”   Fisher’s elbow, A.K.A Tennis elbow, causes pain and swelling over the lateral portion of the elbow.  The injury is caused by repetitive casting and retrieving, and the constant stress this repetitive motion puts on your muscles (especially the wrist extensors).  The medical term for this injury is “lateral epicondylitis.”

Golf is another great sport for relaxation and fun.  Golfers are also susceptible to elbow injuries and they too have their own name for the injury: “medial epicondylitis.”  This injury is caused by overuse of the muscles in the forearm.  This injury also causes pain and swelling at the elbow.In extreme cases these injuries can cause swelling or cause entrapment of your nerves, which can lead to tingling and numbness in your hands.  If this occurs you should consider seeing a medical professional for an accurate diagnosis.The good news is, however, that you can take steps prevent these injuries from ending your fishing, tennis, or golfing:

1.       First of all it is important to stretch your extensor muscles of the wrist.  To achieve a good stretch, simply push your hand down and bring the fingers towards your forearm.  Hold this stretch for around 35 seconds.  Doing this stretch before the event will help prevent both Fisher’s and Tennis elbow.  It is also a good idea to stretch the wrist flexors by pulling the hand back.  This will help prevent medial epicondylitis/golfers elbow, which can also occur with fishing.  These stretches are a great way to prevent the injury from occurring in the first place.

2.        It is also not a bad idea to bring a bag of ice with you.  You’ll probably already have ice in the ice chest, keeping your drinks cool.  Bring a bread bag, and there you have it, a homemade cold compress, and one of the best therapies available.  If you notice any pain or swelling around the elbow, place the ice pack on the area for 20 minutes.  Continue to apply ice for 20 minutes every hour.  Be sure not to burn yourself with the ice, and be careful to not leave the ice on for more than 20 minutes.

3.       A pain relieving gel such as BIOFREEZE can help provide relief from your pain, without the harmful side effects of many over the counter and prescription pain relievers.

4.       Taking an anti-inflammatory (NSAID) may also provide some relief, however beware of the dangers of anti-inflammatory drugs.  These over the counter medications can cause stomachbleeding, which contributes to the death of many people each year.  Other options include Omega-3-Fatty Acids or fish oils, which also have a natural anti-inflammatory effect.  Flax seed is another natural oil with anti-inflammatory properties. 

5.       There are also elbow braces you can wear for these types of injuries, however; some studies show that bracing may actually cause more damage by not allowing blood flow and movement needed to heal the injury.  I would recommend wearing a brace in acute situations (< 36hours) for the beneficial effects of compression.  Try to wean off the brace as early as possible, and don’t use it as a “crutch” to keep fishing, golfing, or playing tennis. 
 
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