Injured woman wrapping arm in gauze

Important Things to Know About Soft Tissue Injuries

Soft tissue injuries can result from many types of accidents. The human body is full of soft tissue, including muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and fat, and there are multiple ways those soft tissues can be injured when subjected to trauma.

Soft tissue injuries can happen throughout the body. As a result of accidents, people often hurt their necks, ankles, backs, shoulders, wrists, elbows, and knees, which tend to be the areas subjected to the most stress.

This article will discuss some important facts about soft tissue injuries as well as common causes for them.

Common Causes of Soft Tissue Injuries

There are many simple ways that people can suffer from soft tissue injuries. Common causes include:

  • Car and truck accidents (including pedestrian knock-downs)
  • Trip or slip and falls
  • Work-related injuries
  • Sporting activities

Any time the human body is subjected to enough force, there will most likely be a resulting soft tissue injury.

Common Soft Tissue Injuries

The following soft tissue injuries can be extremely serious or fairly minor. The resulting pain, swelling, loss of range of motion, and discomfort can last for a few weeks or months, or last permanently. Sometimes, soft tissue injuries can require physical therapy and/or surgery to repair. 

In extreme cases, people can experience long-term symptoms like pain, stiffness, and limited range of motion due to scar tissue that was the result of soft tissue injuries.

Here are some of the most common soft tissue injuries:

Knee Injuries

The knee is an amazing joint in the human body, playing a major role in our mobility.

One common soft tissue knee injury is an anterior cruciate ligament injury, more commonly referred to as an ACL injury. The ACL is an important ligament in the knee and provides stability within the complex knee joint.

If you have injured your ACL, you can feel symptoms like pain, stiffness, and swelling. You may not be able to move your knee very well either. Treatment for torn ACLs often consists of immobilization, physical therapy, and surgery.

Sprains and Strains

Sprains and strains are probably the most common type of soft tissue injury and consist of injured ligaments, tendons, or muscles. 

Most sprains and strains are minor and will heal upon immobilization. But for serious occurrences, people could be prescribed physical therapy with exercises, heat pads, cold pads, and massage to help heal the injured area.

Tendinitis

Tendinitis is when a tendon has become irritated, bruised, or injured in some way. It can happen through overuse or overexertion. Tendinitis often will affect someone’s body parts with joints, such as their shoulders, wrists, knees, and elbows.

Similar to ligaments, tendons can be repaired by limited use and physical therapy. In extreme cases, surgery will be necessary.

Bursitis

Bursitis flares up when small fluid-filled sacs that surround a joint become injured or aggravated. These sacs are called bursae and can become inflamed when someone suffers an injury to a joint.

The symptoms of bursitis are similar to other soft tissue injuries. People feel pain and swelling and experience a limited range of motion.

Kohan Law Group Represents Those Who Have Been Seriously Injured

If you have suffered a soft tissue injury from an accident, you may be able to receive compensation for your injuries. 

The Nassau County, Long Island personal injury lawyers at the Kohan Law Group know what it takes to successfully represent someone who has been seriously injured. Contact us today to schedule a free initial consultation.