Secondary Injuries

Continued...

Of course, the best way to avoid sustaining secondary injuries is to prevent primary injuries from occurring in the first place. You can do this by using extra caution and reducing your risk factors.

The next best course of action is to fully recover from the primary injury before resuming the activities that caused it. To recover completely it is helpful to understand the nature of primary injuries and the way the body heals itself.

The Body's Healing Response

There are two types of primary injuries: intrinsic and extrinsic. An intrinsic injury is caused by forces generated within the body. Muscle tears, tendonitis, stress fractures and ligament strains are typical intrinsic injuries.

Intrinsic injuries can be divided further into acute and chronic. An acute intrinsic injury happens spontaneously when you try to do more than your body can handle - a quick sprint, a sharp turn - and suddenly something gives.

A chronic intrinsic injury results from repeated stresses that are not given enough time to heal when they first occur. These injuries, such as stress fractures, tendonitis and patellofemoral knee pain, are more common and aggravating than acute injuries.

An extrinsic injury results when you are subjected to forces outside of the body These injuries, commonly referred to as accidents, can be much more severe. Skiing over a mogul and landing on an exposed tree stump, or being hit with a squash ball moving at high velocity are two examples.

To prevent secondary injuries and chronic injuries from developing, it's important to understand how the body heals. Exercise increases the amount of fluids in the tissues. Usually these fluids dissipate after a short period of rest.

But if the rest period is not long enough for the fluid to be completely reabsorbed, it builds up and remains as swelling and pressure. Stretching and post-exercise ice application help decrease such fluid buildup.

But what happens if the situation is not corrected?

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Table of Contents

Foreword: Billie Jean King

Comments by Barb Harris
Editor in Chief,
Shape Magazine

General Health
Nutrition
Exercise
Common Medical Problems
Dental Health
Emergency!
Infectious Disease
Sexual Health
Emotional Well-Being
Eating Disorders
Alcohol & Other Drugs
Environmental Health
Prevention