HealthFlex
×
  • Home
  • Our Clinic
    • About Us
    • Our Staff
    • Gallery
    • Testimonials
    • Write Us A Review
  • Services
  • Core EX
  • New Patient
    • New Patient Guide
    • Appointment Booking
    • Free Consultation
    • Patient Forms
    • Insurance Information
  • Blog
  • Employment
  • Contact Us
  • FAQ

How Injuries Heal

March 23, 2021Injury Prevention

Have you ever dealt with an injury that seems to take forever to heal?

Our bodies utilize our immune system to promote healing whether a simple ankle sprain or a post-operative hip replacement.

In a healthy situation, our injuries heal in four progressive phases beginning with hemostasis which occurs immediately after a wound in the body. Hemostasis is the phase that stops the bleeding. Second, we have inflammation which occurs on average within 3 days of the injury. In this phase we have inflammatory cells that contribute to the removal of damaged cells and pathogens. Also in this phase, there is increased swelling, redness and warmth in which we can alleviate with cryotherapy at the area if appropriate. It should be noted that this phase may be prolonged depending on the type of injury, health of a person, and other mechanisms that may contribute to a chronic injury. The next phase is proliferation, which may last up to twenty days and focuses on creating new cell and tissue growth. The last phase is maturation and remodeling which may take up to twenty days to a year depending on the extent of the injury and health status of the person. In this phase, you may see a progression of load and stress while completing your exercise program in physical therapy. 

Different tissue types may also have different healing timelines. Muscle strains take up to between one week to six months to heal depending on the extent of the soft tissue damage. On average, ankle sprains of grades II to III take between ten to ninety days to heal appropriately. And peripheral nerve lacerations heal the slowest, as nerves grow on average one to three millimeters per day. 

What can be done to accelerate healing time?

There are many factors that contribute to the healing of an injury in the body. 

  • Nutrition plays a big factor, a healthy diet brings proper nutrients into the body which is associated with healing at a faster rate compared to a poor diet that has inflammatory promoting factors. 
  • As one ages, the healing rate declines. 
  • Having a history of previous injuries in the same area may also contribute to poor healing and chronic inflammation unless properly guided through the healing repair phases. 
  • Lifestyle factors can play either a negative or positive role depending on the choice such as having a smoking history or living an active lifestyle with exercise. 
  • Comorbidities such as diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease, COPD can delay healing time on average of three months depending on the extent of the injury and control of the disease. 

Although our bodies have natural healing abilities it is important to keep in mind modifiable and nonmodifiable factors that can promote or delay proper healing. 

Sources:

Therapeutic Exercise Foundations and Techniques. F.A. Davis Company

Wong, Michael. Pocket Orthopaedics Evidence-Based Survival Guide. Jones and Bartlett Learning

Robertson, E. 2019, Introduction to the Diagnostic Process, lecture notes, PT566 unit 1

Kelley et al. 2009, Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, Shoulder Guidelines Adhesive Capsulitis, JOSPT

Add Comment Cancel


Categories

  • Diagnosis
  • Golf
  • Injury Prevention
  • Insurances
  • Lifestyle
  • Nutrition
  • Pickleball
  • Posture
  • Resistance Training
  • Running
  • Spine Health
  • Sports Medicine
  • Uncategorized
  • Yoga

Archives

  • September 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • January 2022
  • March 2021
  • August 2020
  • June 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • October 2019
  • August 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017

Premier sports and orthopedic rehabilitation center in Newport Beach and Irvine. Our commitment is to provide the most professional and expert care to ensure a quick, comfortable recovery from injury or pain.

949-759-1840

info@coreperformancept.com

15 Corporate Plaza Suite 130, Newport Beach CA 92660

Our second location in Irvine

949-861-3416

info@coreperformancept.com

37 Creek Road Suite 190, Irvine CA 92604

Latest News

  • Benefits of Plyometric Exercise After ACL Reconstruction Sep 23

    Anterior cruciate ligament tears are one of the most detrimental...

  • Diaphragmatic Breathing Jun 22

    What is diaphragmatic breathing? The diaphragm is a large muscle...

  • Intermittent Pneumatic Compression (IPC) Therapy Jun 22

    What is compression therapy? Compression therapy increases blood flow in...

  • Graston Technique: What is it and how can it help you? Jun 17

    Graston Technique is a form of Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue...

  • Pickleball: Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis) Jun 17

    What is Lateral Epicondylitis? “Tennis Elbow” is caused by overuse...

Copyright ©2021 all rights reserved
  • COVID-19