The New York herald., 1922-07-09

potent forces and the prescribing ana
always be under the direction of a
regular physician.
1t might be we'll to consider in de-
tail few OF the common injuries met
with and how the various means of
treatment described are blended to
bring about the early return to funcl
ton.
Muscular Bruise--This injury is the
most common of all those occurring
to football players, and is occasionally
met in other types of sport. particu-
larly baseball. AS a rule 1t is the i'm
pact OF the shoulder Of the tackler
striking the front of the thigh which
smashes these muscles against the
femur. There occurs an immediate
swelling and hardening of the extensus
of the leg muscles, accompanied usually
by great deal Of pain and inability
to straighten the knee. There is often
marked discoloration.
1t will be found in these injuries
that a varying. number of, the muscle
fibers and small vessels are broken by
the impact of the blow. This leads to
exudation of blood and lymph. which
causes the swelling within the muscle
and gums together many Of it's fibers.
If seen at once radiant light and heat
for ten minutes and through and
through diathermy are used at about
1000 milliamperes. followed by gentle
stroking, especially above the injured
muscles. In slighter cases or the Sec
ond or third day in severe ones, the
Morton wave static is added, after the
diathermy.
II these bruises are not seen for sew.
eral days or, as in one of my cases,
rest and hot towels alone had been
used until the swelling had Organ
lied" into a dense mass, heat, heavy
vibration, hacking and long static
sparks may be needed to break up the
adhesions and promote absorption.
About four days with daily treatments
is all that is now required to restore
a moderately serious muscle bruise.
In these cases, as well as in severe
sprains. much harm has often been
done by letting loose the team rub
Der" on the men before medical advice
has been obtained. The usual result Is
~ a66 oeC dAA oCNCAC lAJuIIcS ny lLo
use of early injudicious and too vigor-
GUS rubbing, but in very slight in
juries no harm will usually be done.
but it is the physician who should
decide whether ora not the injury is
slight
Torn Ligaments-These should. be
relaxed, supported and the joint used
slightly from the first. Heat and
diathermy only should be used at the
start, with perhaps some gentle strok-
ing. In sprains of even moderate Sc
verify, where there is no actual rup-
ture OF ligaments. the radiant heat and
diathermy should be followed by static
sparks and deep prolonged stroking
massage.
Torn Muscle Insertions-These So
called pulled tendons" are common in
track athletics and occur occasionally
in basketball and baseball Here alb
solute rest and support for two weeks
at least is necessary before heat and
diathermy are used
Hemorrhage Beneath the Periosteum
This is the real Charley horse" for
which muscle bruises are often mis-
taken. 1t should be firmly bandageu
and rested for two days, then treated
with heavy diathermy and either vibra-
tion or frictions and stroking.
Tendon Sheath Inf1ammations--
These occur early in the season Of
training, esperially in track and arv
generally found in the heel tendons.
They are treated by rest, radiant light
and heat, simple high frequency and
stroking, when chronic heavier mas
sage and static sparks are also indi-
Gated.
Fractures-These should be set by
the surgeon. confirmed by X-ray. and
where possible a bi-valved or split cast
used. which should be- removed care
fully in from three to eight days. de-
pending upon the tendency of the
muscle pull to displace the bony
fragments. Then radiant heat, long
continued low temperatures of dia-
thermy. stroking above the fracture
and gentle passive movement of the
joints above and below, with the frac-
lures supported, should be used.
Sufficient experience has proved
that these measures carefully applied
will diminish the recovery time from
25 per cent to 80 per cent, depending
upon the injury. They are worthy Of
careful and thorough trial wherever
college athletic injuries occur.
--------------- --------------