10/10/2025
🏃♂️ SPORTS INJURIES AND FIRST AID: A MODERN APPROACH
In the UK, sport and physical activity are part of everyday life for millions. According to Sport England’s latest Active Lives survey, 63.7% of adults meet the recommended 150 minutes of moderate activity per week—that’s over 30 million people regularly engaging in sport. Among young people, participation is also strong, with schools and clubs supporting activities like football, athletics, and dance. Even older adults are increasingly active, with 58% of those aged 55+ meeting activity guidelines.
Whether it’s running, team sports, walking, or marathons, people participate for fun, fitness, and recreation. But with movement comes the risk of injury—and as a physiotherapist, I see this daily. Acute injuries like sprains, strains, and tendon overloads are common not just in sport, but in everyday life due to posture, repetitive tasks, or sudden movements.
🩹 First Aid for Acute Sports Injuries
Traditionally, we followed the RICE protocol—Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation—for managing soft tissue injuries. However, modern evidence has evolved our understanding. The PEACE & LOVE approach is now considered best practice for musculoskeletal injuries:
🧘 PEACE (for immediate care):
Protection: Avoid activities that increase pain.
Elevation: Raise the injured limb to reduce swelling.
Avoid anti-inflammatories: They may impair tissue healing.
Compression: Use bandages to limit swelling.
Education: Empower patients with knowledge about recovery.
❤️ LOVE (for ongoing recovery):
Load: Gradually reintroduce movement and activity.
Optimism: Positive mindset aids recovery.
Vascularisation: Encourage aerobic activity to boost healing.
Exercise: Restore mobility, strength, and function.
This approach is backed by recent research in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, which emphasizes active recovery and patient education over passive rest.
