with the tendons and irritate them. Diagnosis Classifications Acute injuries Any type of injury that occurs to the body through sudden trauma, such as a fall, twist or blow to the body. A few examples of this type of injury would be sprains, strains and contusions. Overuse injuries An overuse injury occurs when a certain activity is repeated frequently and the body does not have enough time to recover between occurrences. Examples include bursitis and tendinitis. Commonly injured tissues With examples of each. Parentheses indicate location in body Ligaments Anterior cruciate ligament (knee), medial collateral ligament (knee), ulnar collateral ligaments (wrist/hand), interspinous ligaments (vertebrae) Muscles Biceps brachii (upper arm), rectus femoris (thigh), transverse abdominis (abdominals) Tendons Patellar tendon (knee), calcaneal/Achilles tendon (foot/lower leg), biceps tendon (shoulder/elbow) Nerves Brachial plexus (shoulder), ulnar nerve (elbow/hand), peroneal nerve (ankle/foot), cranial nerves I-XII(head) Bones Femur (leg), humerus (arm), ribs (torso), metatarsals I-VI (foot), metacarpals I-VI (hand) Cartilage Menisci (knee), intervertebral discs (spine), acetabulum (hip) Management RICE method The RICE method is an effective procedure used in the initial treatment of a soft tissue injury. Rest It is suggested that the patient take a break from the activity that caused the injury in order to give the injury time to heal. Ice The injury should be iced on and off in 20 minute intervals, avoiding direct contact of the ice with the skin. Compression Bandaging the injury will compress it, and prevent any further bleeding or swelling from occurring. Elevation Elevating the injury above the heart while resting will aid in the reduction of swelling. No HARM protocol This mnemonic indicates what to do within the first 48–72 hours after the injury in order to speed up the recovery process. Heat Applying heat to the injured area can cause blood flow and swelling to increase. Alcohol Alcohol can inhibit the ability to feel if the injury is becoming more aggravated, as well as increasing blood flow and swelling. Re-injury Avoid any activities that could aggravate the injury and cause further damage. Massage Massaging an injured area can promote blood flow and swelling, and potentially cause more damage if done too early. Treatment If severe pain persists after the first 24hours it is recommended that an individual consult with a professional who can make a diagnosis and implement a treatment plan so the patient can return to everyday activities. To make a full diagnosis, a professional