II. Management: Acute Musculoskeletal Injury (first 72 hours after injury)

  1. See Acute Pain Management
  2. See Acute Pain Management in Children
  3. Home management
    1. Local Cold Therapy (as well as other RICE-M modalities)
    2. Gentle active range of motion
    3. Isometric Exercise
  4. Physical therapy modalities (daily for 5 days)
    1. Electrical Muscle Stimulation
    2. Pulsed Ultrasound
    3. Gentle massage
  5. Therapeutic Goals
    1. Decrease swelling and pain
    2. Improve range of motion
    3. Speed healing

III. Management: Subacute Musculoskeletal Injury (3-14 days after injury)

  1. Home management
    1. Local Heat Therapy
    2. Active range of motion and Stretching
    3. Isotonic Exercise
  2. Physical therapy modalities (three times weekly for 2 weeks)
    1. Electrical Muscle Stimulation
    2. Iontophoresis
    3. Massage and joint mobilization
  3. Therapeutic Goals
    1. Improve range of motion and function
    2. Improve Muscle tone

IV. Management: Chronic Musculoskeletal Injury (Beyond 2 weeks after injury)

  1. See Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain Management
  2. See Low Back Pain Management
  3. Home management
    1. Contrast Bath
    2. Muscle Strengthening and joint stabilization
    3. Active range of motion and Stretching
    4. Isotonic Exercise
  4. Physical therapy modalities (twice weekly for 4 weeks)
    1. Continuous Ultrasound Therapy
    2. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
    3. Myofascial release techniques
  5. Therapeutic Goals
    1. Normalize tissue length
    2. Normalize Activities of Daily Living

Images: Related links to external sites (from Bing)

Related Studies