Whether it is a sprain, muscle injury, fracture, ligament injury or joint trauma, knowing what to do immediately can help reduce further injury and discomfort.
🛑 Stop the activity: Stop exercising or using the injured body part. Avoid continuing to walk, run or play through significant pain.
❄️ Apply cold therapy: Use an ice pack wrapped in a cloth for 15–20 minutes at a time. Never apply ice directly to the skin.
🩹 Compression: For some soft-tissue injuries, an elastic or crepe bandage may help control swelling. Keep it comfortably snug and loosen it if numbness, tingling, increased pain or colour changes occur.
⬆️ Elevate the limb: When possible, keep an injured arm or leg elevated to help reduce swelling.
🦴 Don't manipulate a suspected fracture: If there is deformity or a bone appears out of position, do not try to straighten it. Keep the area still and seek medical attention.
🚫 Avoid vigorous massage initially: Massage or excessive movement immediately after an injury may worsen swelling or tissue damage.
👟 Avoid unnecessary weight-bearing: If walking is very painful or a fracture is suspected, avoid putting weight on the injured limb until it has been assessed.
🏥 Seek urgent medical care: Severe pain, significant deformity, inability to bear weight, rapidly increasing swelling, numbness, weakness, an open wound, or a pale/blue/cold limb requires prompt evaluation.
👨⚕️ Don't ignore persistent pain: Even seemingly minor injuries can sometimes involve ligaments, tendons, cartilage or bone. An orthopaedic assessment can help identify the injury and guide appropriate treatment and rehabilitation.
Dr. Ankit N. Mittal
M.S. Orthopaedic (Gold Medalist)
Arthroscopy, Sports Injury & Joint Replacement Surgeon
Shanthi Orthopaedic & Dental Clinic
📍 Shop No. 6, Ground Floor, Opposite Navrang Theatre, J. P. Road, Andheri West, Mumbai
📞 9307611792
🕐 Monday to Saturday: 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Remember: First aid is only the first step. Proper diagnosis and timely treatment can help you recover safely and return to normal activity.