An acute injury is an injury that occurred recently as a result of a traumatic event. The term acute is often used to describe a type of injury (or illness) that is of rapid onset and progression but of a limited duration. These types of injuries are usually the result of a specific impact or traumatic event to the body. For example a sprain, a broken bone or a muscle strain could all be acute injuries and may be the result of a fall, a car accident or other catastrophic event.
Acute injuries often require immediate medical attention, including first aid treatment with rest, ice, compression and elevation. However, after the initial incident, a physical therapy program can often restore an individual back to daily function, quickly, if initiated early enough in the injury process. Some physiotherapy treatments are particularly beneficial at this stage, such as electrical stimulation and ultrasound which reduces tissue inflammation. Your physiotherapist will also be able to give you helpful advice on proper techniques specific to your occupation or activities in your daily life to help prevent further injury.
Self Help
Here are some things you can do if you, or someone you know, experience an acute injury.
Rest - No weight should be put on the injury site and crutches should be used where appropriate.
Ice- Ice packs (wrapped in a towel) should be applied to the injured area for periods of twenty minutes every couple of hours. The ice packs relieve pain and are thought to reduce bleeding in the damaged tissue.
Compression - A compression bandage should be applied to the injury where possible, to prevent excessive swelling.
Elevate - To relieve pain and prevent excessive swelling, the injury should be elevated where possible.
If you would like to read about Injury Prevention, click here to go to ACC's website.