First aid for sports injuries such as sprains, strains and suspected fractures starts with stopping activity, assessing the injured person and protecting the affected area from further harm. Sprains affect ligaments, strains involve muscles or tendons, while fractures are breaks or cracks in bones. Although many sporting injuries can initially look similar, significant pain, swelling, deformity or loss of normal function should never simply be “walked off”.
That is particularly relevant in a sports-loving city like Melbourne. From local footy and cricket to netball, soccer, basketball, running and weekend club competitions, sporting injuries can happen wherever people are pushing, twisting, tackling, jumping or changing direction at speed.
Knowing some basic first aid for sports injuries can help you make better decisions during those important first few minutes.
Key Takeaways
- A sprain involves ligaments, while a strain affects muscles or tendons.
- Stop sporting activity when an acute injury occurs rather than trying to play through significant pain.
- Rest, ice, compression and elevation can form part of immediate first aid for acute sprains and strains.
- A suspected fracture should be supported and unnecessary movement avoided while appropriate medical assistance is arranged.
- Recognised first aid training helps coaches, parents, players and volunteers respond more confidently when an injury occurs.
Sports Injuries Are Part of Melbourne's Sporting Lifestyle
Sport is woven into Melbourne life. The city may be famous for elite competition, but much of its sporting culture happens away from major stadiums — on suburban ovals, basketball courts, running tracks, school grounds and community playing fields.
And injuries are not restricted to professional athletes.
According to Victoria’s Better Health Channel, sports injuries can result from factors including overuse, direct impact or forces greater than a body part can structurally withstand. Common examples include bruises, sprains, strains and joint injuries.
An ankle can roll when a netballer lands awkwardly. A hamstring can be strained during a sprint. A wrist can be injured when someone puts out a hand during a fall, while a heavy collision on the football field can cause anything from bruising to a fracture.
When someone goes down, however, the people around them may not immediately know exactly what has been injured.
That makes the initial first aid response important.
First Things First: Stop the Game and Assess the Injury
Sport has a long tradition of telling injured players to “walk it off”. That is not a useful first aid strategy when someone has sustained a potentially significant injury.
Stop the activity and assess what has happened.
Ask the injured person where it hurts and, if possible, what happened. Did the ankle twist? Was there a direct collision? Did they fall from a height? Did they hear or feel something unusual when the injury occurred?
Look for obvious swelling, bleeding, abnormal positioning or deformity, and consider whether the person can use the injured area normally.
The mechanism of injury also matters. Someone who has fallen heavily or been involved in a substantial collision may have injuries beyond the painful ankle, wrist or knee that initially attracts attention.
For a serious incident, first aid priorities extend beyond the sporting injury itself. Check for danger, assess the casualty and obtain emergency assistance when necessary.
If a person is unconscious or not breathing normally, the situation has moved well beyond routine sports injury management and emergency first aid procedures should begin immediately.
Immediate First Aid for Sprains and Strains
For an acute sprain or strain, the first objective is to stop further aggravation of the injury.
Healthdirect describes immediate treatment using RICE: Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation.
Rest means stopping the activity and avoiding putting unnecessary stress on the injured area. Trying another lap, finishing the quarter or testing whether an injured ankle can tolerate running may make matters worse.
Ice or a cold pack can be used to help manage pain and swelling. FirstAidPro advises applying a cold compress or ice pack for around 20 minutes at a time and warns against placing ice directly onto the skin. Victoria’s Better Health Channel similarly recommends separating an ice pack from the skin with wet towelling.
Compression with an appropriate bandage can help limit swelling. The bandage should provide firm support without interfering with circulation.
Elevation means raising the injured area above heart level when practical, which can also assist with swelling.
Better Health Channel additionally describes immediate management in terms of protection and relative rest, highlighting an important distinction: first aid is about protecting an acute injury, not condemning someone to prolonged complete inactivity. Further rehabilitation and return to activity should be guided by the nature and severity of the injury and appropriate healthcare advice.
First Aid for a Suspected Fracture
When a fracture is suspected, avoid unnecessary movement of the injured area.
Help the person remain comfortable and support the injury. Do not try to straighten a deformed limb simply because you think it should look different.
This is not the time for amateur joint manipulation or attempts to “put something back into place”.
The wider condition of the casualty also needs attention. A fracture resulting from significant trauma may occur alongside other injuries, and serious bleeding requires immediate first aid.
Call Triple Zero (000) when the injury or the person’s overall condition indicates a medical emergency.
For less urgent suspected fractures, appropriate medical assessment is still important. An X-ray or other professional assessment may be required to determine what has actually happened.
The role of the first aider is not to provide an orthopaedic diagnosis. It is to recognise the possibility of significant injury, prevent avoidable further harm and obtain the level of medical assistance the person requires.
Don't Rush the Return to Sport
There is a big difference between providing immediate injury treatment and deciding when someone is ready to return to sport.
First aid deals with the initial situation. Recovery and rehabilitation come afterwards.
Better Health Channel advises that returning to sport before an injury has properly healed can cause further damage and delay recovery. Depending on the injury, assessment and rehabilitation may involve a doctor, physiotherapist or other appropriate healthcare professional.
This is particularly important with recurring injuries. A player who repeatedly “gets over” the same ankle, knee or hamstring problem long enough to play another match may need proper assessment rather than another roll of strapping tape.
The aim is not merely to get through the next game. It is to recover appropriately and reduce the risk of making the injury worse.
Why First Aid Training Matters on the Sideline
You don’t have to be a professional sports trainer to be the person standing closest when someone gets hurt.
It could be a coach at junior football, a parent at weekend netball, a teacher supervising school sport, a teammate at soccer training or a volunteer running a community event.
That is where practical first aid knowledge becomes valuable.
The nationally recognised HLTAID011 Provide First Aid unit covers the skills and knowledge required to recognise and assess an emergency, provide an appropriate first aid response, seek assistance from emergency services, perform CPR and monitor a casualty’s condition.
Importantly, first aid training is broader than learning what to do with a sprained ankle. A sports environment can produce bleeding, fractures, head injuries, medical emergencies and cardiac arrest as well as everyday soft-tissue injuries.
Completing a recognised First Aid course in Melbourne with First Aid Course Melbourne by FirstAidPro gives you the opportunity to develop practical skills that can be applied when a real incident occurs.
Because when a player goes down, knowing what not to do can be just as valuable as knowing what to do.
Related Reading
Better Health Channel – Sports Injuries
First Aid Pro – Free First Aid Resources
Healthdirect – Sprains and strains
First Aid Pro – Sprains and Strains: 7 Tips for Effective Treatment – How to..
First Aid Pro –First Aid for Fractures in Australia: Open & Closed Fracture Management with DRSABCD
FAQs
What is the difference between a sprain and a strain?
A sprain involves injury to ligaments around a joint, while a strain affects muscles or tendons. Both can cause pain, swelling and reduced function, so medical assessment may be needed when an injury is severe or its nature is uncertain.
Should you use ice on a sports injury?
Ice or a cold pack can form part of first aid for acute sprains and strains. Healthdirect recommends applying it for around 20 minutes at a time and advises against putting ice directly onto the skin. A protective layer should be used between the cold source and the skin.
How can you tell if an injury is a sprain or a fracture?
It is not always possible to reliably distinguish a severe sprain from a fracture based on appearance or pain alone. If there is significant pain, deformity, loss of function or uncertainty about whether a fracture or dislocation has occurred, seek professional medical assessment.
Should you move someone with a suspected fracture?
Avoid unnecessary movement of a suspected fracture and support the injured area. Do not attempt to straighten an obviously deformed limb. Serious injuries or significant trauma may require emergency medical assistance.
When should you call 000 for a sports injury?
Call Triple Zero (000) for a medical emergency, including when someone is unconscious, is not breathing normally, has severe uncontrolled bleeding or has sustained serious trauma. If you are unsure about the urgency of a person’s condition, seek professional medical advice.
