Soft Tissue Injury Types | Symptoms | Treatment

There are several factors that can lead to soft-tissue damage to the muscles, ligaments, and tendons. When a person has a soft tissue injury, he or she may experience pain – mild, moderate, or severe – depending on the nature and extent of the injury. The injury may result in inflammation, bruising, and swelling.

Soft Tissue Injury Types

The following is the classification of soft-tissues injuries:

• Strains
• Stress injuries
• Bursitis
• Tendonitis
• Bruises (contusions)

What is a strain?

The tendon or a muscle injury that results due to excessive pressure, force, overuse, or stretching is known as strain. RICE is the best and most powerful approach to ease the symptoms and treat muscle strain. R.I.C.E. stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. For a severe injury to a muscle or torn ligament or muscle, surgery may be required.

What is a sprain?

A partial tear to a ligament is known as a sprain. A twist or wrench causes sprains. They often occur in the wrists, knees, elbow, and ankles. R.I.C.E. is the preferred treatment modality. However, for a completely torn ligament, surgery may be needed.

What is a bruise?

A bruise is a type of soft tissue injury. A sudden fall, a blow or kick or any blunt force causes this type of injury to the soft tissue. The tissues in the affected area bleed resulting in discoloration, swelling, and pain. If you have any serious type of bruise, an expert Orthopedic doctor will examine it. The first line of treatment for a bruise includes R.I.C.E – Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation.

What is a stress fracture?

A small fracture or crack in a bone is defined as a stress fracture. It occurs in the hip bone, legs, and feet – the weight-bearing bones of the body. Excessive work, physical activity, and overuse of the bones may often result in this type of fracture. Stopping the activity that causes the fracture, pain medicines, elevation, and ice application help in addressing this type of fracture. Stopping weight-bearing activity, reducing force and pressure on the affected area, taking rest using braces or shoe inserts, and using a cast are the continued treatment modalities. A simple and small crack in the bone may progress to a complete break. If this happens, surgery may be required.

What is bursitis?

Bursa is a fluid-filled sac that works as a shock absorber (cushion) between the muscles or tendons and bones. Inflammation of the bursa is known as Bursitis. Direct injury to a joint or overuse injury cause bursitis. The condition affects the elbow, knee (most commonly), shoulder, hip, ankle, and foot.

Soft Tissue Injury Treatment

Doctors prescribe anti-inflammatory medicines to reduce inflammation and pain. To reduce swelling ice may be used. Experts suggest rest, compression, and elevation as the first treatment modality. To reduce the symptoms such as swelling, inflammation and pain that persists, doctors give injections. For the treatment of bursitis resulting from an infection, doctors prescribe antibiotics. Surgery may be rarely recommended.

What is tendonitis?

Tendons are a flexible band of tissues that connect muscles to bones. The inflammation of tendons is known as tendonitis. The soft tissues – such as tendons when subjected to repetitive motion due to overuse – tendonitis may result.

Tendonitis commonly affects the wrists, hands, elbows, knees, hip, shoulder, ankle, and foot. You might be aware of these conditions – tennis elbow, swimmer’s shoulder, Golfer’s elbow, and jumper’s knee. The repeated movements trigger inflammation in the sports such as Tennis, Golf, and others. The tendonitis is thus named after the sports that trigger it.

Ice should be applied immediately after the injury. As usual, anti-inflammatory medicine, elevation, compression, and rest work wonders in healing the inflamed area of the joint. Doctors recommend strengthening and stretching exercises to prevent further injury to the joint. For chronic tendonitis-related pain and inflammation, doctors give steroid injections. If a tendon is completely torn, surgery may be required.

Bottom Line

Athletes and non-athletes share many similar soft-tissue injuries. If you think you have soft tissue injury with severe pain and swelling, then meet Dr. Vasudeva Juvvadi for prompt and effective treatment.

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