Good Health Guide - Injuries to the skin

Superficial injuries

Symptoms:

  • Painful swelling of the affected tissue or limb
  • Discoloured skin due to bruising
  • Restricted movement of limbs

What you can do:

Gentle jogging and stretching before sport warms up the muscles and helps prevent injuries. For superficial injuries such as contusions or sprains, the RICE rule applies.

The RICE rule:

Rest: stop using the affected body part immediately. Ice: cool down the injured area for at least 30 minutes to prevent swelling.

Compression: a light compression bandage can help curb swelling. Elevation: elevate the affected body part to again avoid swelling and the associated pain.