Heat/dehydration, heat exhaustion; asthma/breathlessness from too much running; ailments from high winds--hot or cold; high anxiety before games; injuries: broken bones, broken teeth, lips (taking a kicked ball in the mouth), bitten tongues, head injuries from falls and collisions with other kids' heads; bee and wasp stings, sand in the eyes, fingers in the eyes, kicks in the shins, broken ankles, sprained ankles, and sprained hands and fingers from trying to break a fall.

And they're not even being paid to do this, it's all for "fun"! Yikes! OK, I don't pretend to understand this, but luckily, homeopathy can help! If you don't believe me, ask the French soccer team doctor from 1993 to 2004, including the World Cup championship team of 1998, who said:

"The greatest value [of homeopathy] in sports? Its speed of action. I can use homeopathic medicines like Arnica directly on the soccer field."--Dr. Jean-Marcel Ferret./1

So without any further ado, what remedies should you have with you on the soccer field? We might as well start with Arnica, as, without a doubt, Arnica has almost single-handedly made homeopathy famous! I would say seventy to eighty percent of the time, you're going to give Arnica for sports injuries; that's because Arnica is a specific for blunt trauma.

Every homeopath carries Arnica with him (or her) in his (or her) pocket or car or backpack or all three. That's certainly the case with me; I have Arnica 10M in my pocket, Arnica 30C in my first aid kit in my backpack and Arnica 200C in my car. What can you do with Arnica? Practically anything! Think of it in car accidents, falls, head injuries, any blow, a sore bruised feeling from any cause--even a flu with a sore bruised feeling all over the body.

The worst head injuries where the person is seeing stars or has actually been knocked out can be brought back to health with a dose of Arnica. Post surgically, people who have taken Arnica have had no need for morphine or other pain relievers; now that's impressive! And I was one of those people once, so I know it's true.

Some of you may be wondering what Arnica, or any homeopathic remedy for that matter, looks like and in answer, the remedies look like little sugar granules and you can drop a few of them in a bottle of spring water, shake it up and take a sip. That's all you have to do! Always shake the water bottle before each dose. An unconscious person can take the remedy by mere contact of the water with his lips, he doesn't have to swallow it.

Arnica

Blunt trauma.

Wounds with a jagged surface, ragged wounds.

Bruises or bruised feeling. Great soreness.

Broken bones, multiple fractures--give Arnica first; you may have to follow with another remedy. In fact, an injured person may need many remedies in succession; a remedy for fright, followed by a remedy for blunt trauma and so on. (Try to leave space between each remedy so that you can ascertain the effect of the remedy just given.)

Sprains.

Strains.

Falls, accidents.

Swelling from injury.

Injury to the throat, hoarseness, loss of voice from shouting, "Hey, I'm open! Pass me the ball, for God's sake!!!"

Nosebleed from injury.

Ailments from over-running/too much running--asthma, nausea, etc.

Head injury, any ailment after head injury.

Another curious thing about Arnica is they won't look well and will be dazed, but they'll tell you they're fine! They don't seem to know they're injured! When you see this, they need Arnica for sure! Furthermore, in a head injury, they may answer you correctly and then fall asleep. Arnica people don't want to be touched, so they'll send you away and they'll be very adamant about it.

In counterdistinction to Arnica, we have another injury remedy that's sure they are not fine! In fact, they fear they're going to die, and that remedy is...

Aconite

Fright, panic and fear are the main features of the Aconite injury--and that's just the parents! Yes, give the parents Aconite to calm them down! You'll look at the little soccer player after an injury and you'll see that he's frantic, groaning, tossing about, biting his fist in pain. Notice your reaction, are you scared? Then it's probably Aconite.

Any ailment or injury with fear as a concomitant is Aconite.

Inability to act or think.

Fear, anxiety attacks, before an event (like a soccer game).

Sudden sore thoat after being exposed to cold/dry winds.

Any ailment after exposure to cold dry winds (and even hot dry winds).

They call Aconite "The Arnica of the eyes". So, getting poked in the eye, corneal abrasions, sand in the eyes, "there's something in my eye!", etc., give Aconite.

And speaking of the eyes, for "black eyes" we have...

Ledum

Black eye, injury to the soft tissue around the eye.

Injuries with dark bruising that feel cold and are better for cold applications. Bruises are very painful with pitting edema and a mottled bruise color.

Cellulitis that spreads upward.

Puncture wounds, animal bites, will prevent tetanus, with deep soreness and swelling of 2 or 3 inches, deep red and painful, needs ice. The Ledum patient will be much worse if you remove the ice for even a second!

Any time an injured part feels cold, give Ledum. In a Ledum wound, you will see redness at the site, but surrounded by a ring of powder, or a ring that's bluish-white; it may feel cold and the injury is ameliorated by cold.

Speaking of black eye, we can't forget...

Symphytum

If I could possibly quote from Dr. Robin Murphy here, "For blows to the eye, Ledum and Symphytum are the first two; Arnica is #3. For severe achiness in the whole eyeball that is dark blue and discolored. ... For all the bone diseases; osteomyelitis, bone ulcers, spinal diseases after trauma and injury. ... Someone gets hit in the face on the cheek, that is not an Arnica case; it is a Symphytum or Ruta case. Arnica is for soft tissue. Arnica may help but Symphytum will cure. ... You get hit in the abdomen or arm, that is more Arnica. The chin, cheek, face or eye is more Symphytum. The knee would be Symphytum or Ruta. You can start with Arnica but a lot of times, that won't finish it. You may have to give two or three remedies in sequence to give rapid relief. Give Arnica to remove the bruised feeling and the swelling and help with the discoloration, then it is time to go to another remedy, like Symphytum to finish it. ... Symphytum has a great affinity for bones...promotes healing; give Arnica first; once the [broken] bone is set, give Symphytum. It helps remove pain, inflammation and swelling, good for injury to periosteum when Ruta fails and injury to coccyx when Hypericum fails."/2

Hypericum

This is the nerve remedy. Have you ever dropped something on your toe or someone stepped on your fingers or the door closed on your hand and the pain shot up your arm? That's Hypericum! Injury to areas rich in nerves. Someone steps on your toes, you bite your tongue. The pain is sharp and shooting. Injury to the nerves, inflammation of the nerves. Falls on the tail bone.

Puncture wounds with sharp pains, animal bites, insect stings with sharp pains.

Numbness and tingling.

Injury to the spine.

Pinched nerve.

Crush wounds

Any neurological condition after injury to the spine like convulsions.

Person complains that he can't raise his arms without pain.

Lacerations.

Excessive painfulness.

Foreign body in the eye.

Calendula

A partner with Hypericum, often you'll see the two of them sold together as "Hyperical". They're both for cuts, open wounds, deep abrasions, multiple abrasions, chapping, chafing, bleeding, stabbing....I think you get the idea that Calendula is an Antiseptic! Pour Calendula water on an open wound to clean it out. Drop some calendula pellets in a plant sprayer and spray the whole area that's been abraded. Take the remedy internally as well. It stops bleeding, stops the redness, puffiness and pus formation at the site of a wound and stimulates healing, soothes the pain.

Redness, rawness.

Abrasions in the eyes, foreign body in the eye, but give Hypericum if there is a lot of pain!

Prevents sepsis from setting in after being wounded and even if it already has set in, Calendula is still the remedy, but also consider Pyrogen.

Another good use for Calendula is the ruptured ear drum you might get from people yelling, "Go team!" and "Deee-fense! Deeee-fense!"

Staphysagria

It can be hard to decide when to use Staphysagria and when to use Calendula. Both are wound remedies. But with Staphysagria there is more pain, exquisite pain! In fact, do you know where I use Staphysagria? At the dentist's office! Scraping the plaque off of sensitive teeth can cause a patient to hit the ceiling! For this I take Staphysagria 10M right as I sit down in the dentist's chair; and as homeopathic remedies don't create the "drugged" feeling you get from pain killers, you can think that the remedy isn't working, and that the dentist just hasn't gotten to your sensitive teeth yet. But when I got through the whole bottom row without pain, I began to suspect something! And when the whole proceedure was done without any anesthesia, I was convinced that the remedy really worked! But back to sports injuries! With Staphysagria, there is deeper infection than in Calendula, there is more pus and more pain. The wound seems to affect the whole person and not just the local site.

Bryonia

Whatever the injury may be, whether it's a broken bone, (and Bryonia is the #1 remedy for acute fractures), a bruise or a sprain, the reaction of the Bryonia person is always the same: He can't move! Even the slightest movement causes a sharp pain! Even breathing might make the pain worse, so he is breathing very shallowly. Firm hard pressure gives him relief, an ace bandage gives relief. He will want the area immobilized. If for some reason Bryonia isn't helping sufficiently in fractures, go to Eupatorium perf. for severe pain.

Bryonia's opposite is...

Rhus toxicodendron

("Rhus tox" for short.) Unlike Bryonia, Rhus tox must move! They cannot sit still! They must stretch, walk about, squirm in their seat. Usually with Rhus tox the injury is a sprain or strain. They feel terrible stiffness, which is relieved by stretching, moving and is worse as soon as they sit for any length of time or lie down. Moving helps them enormously, so does heat and hot bathing and massage.

Ruta

Ruta is an awful lot like Rhus tox. Ruta has strains and sprains, an affinity for the tendons, and a feeling of stiffness and is also worse cold and better heat, but Ruta wants to lie down and is better for lying down, which Rhus tox certainly is not; plus, Ruta's stiffness is extreme; they'll say it's like being encased in cement!

Also, what Ruta is famous for is injuries to the shins and other areas that are thinly covered, like the forehead, chin, elbow, cheek bone--the periosteum, in other words.

Lachesis

Compound fractures, tremendous bruising which is black, or near black with oozing of dark blood, threatened infection, severe pain, burning pain, worse heat, worse pressure. Do not even think about giving an ace bandage to a Lachesis patient!

Natrum sulph.

"Nat-sulph" is needed for the chronic syndrome following head injury or spinal injury which will almost always include severe depression.

There may also be amnesia about the event.

Helleborus

Following head injury, a slowness or sluggishness, poor concentration, a lack of comprehension; the patient is in a mental fog; he may have a furrowed brow and a rolling of the head from side to side.

Apis

Bee stings, wasp stings. Penetrating wounds that burn and sting as if they were bee or wasp stings.

Carbo veg.

The person is passing out from the injury. Also, altitude sickness, when your team is traveling to areas of high altitude.

Gelsemium

The little soccer player is so nervous, so anxiety-ridden, before the game that he's trembly, feeling weak, may have diarrhea and thinking that he's "coming down with something" and not well enough to play.

Belladonna

The problem here is the heat. Heatstroke, heat exhaustion. The two back-up remedies for Belladonna in heatstroke are Glonoine and Natrum carb.

Bellis Perennis

Bellis is a back-up for Arnica. They are both daisies, but Bellis is a deeper Arnica; it's for bruised organs. Imagine being kicked in the stomach or hit in the breast! This would be Bellis. There may also be lymph node enlargement after a trauma. Bellis will ask for cold applications and is worse from heat.

Opium

After Arnica, Opium is the most common remedy for head injury. The person will have pin-point pupils, will be stuporous and unresponsive. Face will be flushed, bloated, heavy, red, hot with an imbecillic look.

Ferrum phos.

Nose bleed of bright red blood.

*******************************************

Potencies: Homeopathic remedies come in different potencies, generally the potencies go like this, from low to high:

6C, 12C, 30C, 200C, 1M, 10M, 50M and CM.

The idea is to match the potency to the severity of the injury. A person who's knocked out needs Arnica 10M and may need it repeated every 10 minutes until he shows signs of recovery, whereas a person with a bruise to his knee might just need Arnica 30C, every 15 minutes until improvement is noticed and then less often as he improves. Even the 200C can do great work in a head injury; I once had a head injury where I was seeing stars and Arnica 200C brought me back to normal within five minutes, so this gives you an idea of how potent the 200C is.

So, you Soccer Moms should get together and pool your money to buy a 30C remedy kit, a 200C kit and a 10M kit and don't worry because no one's going to be without a remedy! Homeopathic remedies clone themselves just by dropping a pellet into water and voila! you've got a new remedy bottle! Yes, I know it doesn't seem possible! Go to Homeopathy Remedy Kits at Hpathy or http://www.a2zhomeopathy.com/ to buy remedy kits, empty bottles, remedy boxes...they've got everything there.

Now the next thing you're going to need is an acute prescribing book, which you can order from the same place or Homeopathy Book Shop at Hpathy, http://www.minimum.com/ or http://www.homeopathic.com/.

There's a lot more to be said about these remedies than what I've listed here; for instance, Staphysagria is also for the resentment one feels after a game, making it hard to fall asleep. ("Harry never passed me the ball!") Plus there are other remedies I had to leave out because of limited space and time, but you'll do well with what is here.

Does everybody know what to do for an injury now? Don't tell the other team!

________________________

1. Homeopathy Today, Aug. 2005, p. 54

2. Robin Murphy, ND; Fundamentals of Materia Medica, p. 515-517.

==================

http://www.vitaminevi.com/Homeo/Broken_Bone_hm.htm

A broken bone should always be treated by a licensed physician. Proper setting of a bone is essential. However, homeopathic remedies have a sound reputation for bringing relief from pain associated with broken bones as well as for accelerating the healing process.

In addition to the remedies described below, homeopathic doctors routinely give the following concurrently, to ensure solid and speedy knitting of a broken bone.

• Calcarea phosphorica 6c, 2 times per day for 3 days, then once daily for 2 weeks.
• Symphytum 6c, 2 times per day for 3 days, then once daily for 2 weeks.

Arnica 30c: This remedy is often used immediately after a bone is broken. It can help relieve the pain that develops when tissue surrounding the broken bone is damaged. It may also help reduce swelling and act as a calming agent. Arnica 30c can be initially taken every fifteen to thirty minutes for an hour or two (for example, while driving to the hospital). Arnica 30c can then be continued three times per day for two days.

Ruta graveolens 6c: Ruta graveolens remedy can be of good use when the pain around the area of the fracture or break is extreme. This remedy is often given if Arnica does not provide relief. Ruta graveolens 6c can be taken times per day.

================

http://www.faqs.org/health/Sick-V2/Fractures-Sprains-and-Strains.html

FRACTURES, SPRAINS, AND STRAINS

---

Ads by Google
Healing Fractured Bones - Tips On How To Help Heal A Fractured Bone - RevolutionHealth.com

Heal Joint Sprains - Breakthrough Treatment Proven To Provide Relief For Your Joint Pain. - www.AidMyJoints.com

Heal Bone Fractures - Successfully heal bone fractures in 2 weeks using natural solutions! - www.weilab.com

Heart Attack Symptoms - The Facts That Your Doctor Doesn't Want To Tell You On Heart Attacks - HeartWellbeing.org

---

DEFINITION

---

Fractures, sprains, and strains are injuries caused to bones, ligaments, joint capsules, or muscles. A joint capsule consists of all the tissues that hold a joint together. Specifically, a fracture is a complete or incomplete break in a bone. A sprain is damage or tearing of ligaments or a joint capsule. A strain is damage or tearing of a muscle.

DESCRIPTION

---

Fractures usually result from a strong force applied to a bone. The bone and the tissue surrounding it may break apart completely, or they may be dislocated (pushed out of position).

Fractures are classified as being simple or compound. A simple fracture is one in which the skin is not broken. The area may be bruised and swollen, but it is not possible to tell simply by looking that a bone is broken. A simple fracture is also called a closed fracture. A compound fracture is one in which the skin is broken. The broken bone is actually visible to the eye. There may be damage to tissue surrounding the bone. Infection is a common complication of a compound fracture.

Fractures are also classified as complete or incomplete. A complete fracture is one in which the bone is broken all the way through. In an incomplete fracture, the break goes only part way through the bone. An incomplete fracture is also known as a greenstick fracture.

Bone breaks can also be classified as single or multiple. These terms describe the number of places in which a bone is broken. A single fracture is one in which the bone is broken in only one place. In a multiple fracture, a bone is broken in more than one place.

Fractures can also be described by other sets of terms. For example, they may be classified according to the direction of the break. A linear fracture runs in the same direction as the length of the bone. A transverse fracture is one that cuts across the width of the bone.

Sprains and Strains

Bones are connected to each other in joints by ligaments. When excessive force is applied to a joint, ligaments may be torn or damaged. This type of injury is a sprain. The seriousness of a sprain depends on how badly ligaments are damaged. Sprains can occur in any joint, but they occur most commonly in the ankle, knee, and finger.

Sprains are often classified as being in one of three categories. A grade I sprain is a mild injury. The ligament is not actually torn. The joint continues to function normally. There may be some swelling and tenderness.

Fractures, Sprains, and Strains: Words to Know

Ligament:

Tough, fiber-like tissue that holds bones together at joints.

Osteoporosis:

A condition in which bones lose protein and minerals, causing them to become weak and subject to fracture.

Reduction:

The restoration of a body part to its original position after it has been displaced, such as during a fracture.

Rickets:

A condition caused by the deficiency of certain minerals, including vitamin D and calcium, causing abnormal bone growth.

Traction:

The process of placing a bone, arm or leg, or group of muscles under tension by applying weights to them, in order to keep them in alignment while they heal.

A grade II sprain involves a partial tear in a ligament. There is obvious swelling, extensive bruising, pain, and reduced function in the joint.

A grade III sprain occurs when a ligament is completely torn. Pain becomes severe, and use of the joint is lost. These symptoms are somewhat similar to those of a bone fracture.

Strains are tears in muscle tissue. Strains are sometimes called pulled muscles. They usually occur when a person forces a muscle to work too hard. They are often caused by using incorrect lifting techniques.

CAUSES

---

Fractures, sprains, and strains are all caused when excessive force is applied to some part of the body. Normally, bones, muscles, ligaments, and other body parts are very resilient. They can withstand large forces and twisting actions. But sometimes these forces and actions become too great. In such cases, bones may be broken, ligaments torn, or muscles bruised.

Risk Factors for Fractures

Anyone can fracture a bone. People who are active are more likely to break a bone, however. For example, people who participate in contact sports, like football and basketball, are at high risk for fractures. The elderly are more likely to break bones than are younger people. Bones become more brittle as one grows older.

Before the age of fifty, more men than women suffer fractures. These fractures are often caused in work-related injuries. After the age of fifty, more women than men suffer fractures. Women tend to lose bone mass more quickly than do men as they grow older.

Some diseases of the bone can increase a person's risk for fractures. Two examples are rickets and osteoporosis (pronounced OSS-tee-o-puh-RO-sis; see osteoporosis entry).

Common types of bone fractures. (Illustration by

Electronic Illustrators Group

)

Risk Factors for Sprains and Strains

Sprains and strains are common. Anyone can have them. But children under the age of eight are less likely to have sprains than older people. Their ligaments are quite tight. If too much force is placed on a joint, a bone is more likely to break than a ligament is to tear. People who are active in sports suffer more sprains and strains than less active people. Repeated sprains in the same joint can make the joint less stable and more likely to suffer sprains again in the future.

SYMPTOMS

---

The first symptoms of all three kinds of injuries are usually pain and swelling. The amount of discomfort depends on the extent of the injury. A serious fracture can produce other symptoms as well. There may be a loss of pulse below the fracture site. The patient may experience numbness, tingling, or even paralysis below the fracture. An open or compound fracture may also be accompanied by bleeding.

X ray of an ankle fracture. (© 1990

Custom Medical Stock

. Reproduced by permission.)

DIAGNOSIS

---

Some types of fractures can be diagnosed easily by simply observing the damaged area. In the case of a compound fracture, for example, the broken bone can actually be seen protruding through the skin. If the fracture cannot be seen clearly, an X ray is usually the next step. Most X rays show the presence of a damaged or broken bone. In some cases, X rays can themselves be questionable. For example, a broken rib is often difficult to see on a single X ray. A series of X rays taken from different angles may be necessary to diagnose a fractured rib.

One kind of fracture that may be difficult to diagnose is a stress fracture. A stress fracture is a very small break in a bone that may not show up on an X ray. A stress fracture can sometimes be diagnosed with a tuning fork. A tuning fork is a metal instrument used in tuning musical instruments. It is placed on the skin over the bone in which a stress fracture is suspected. If the patient reports increased pain, a stress fracture may be present.

Diagnosis of Sprains and Strains

In the case of sprains and strains, patients may actually recognize their own condition due to the swelling and pain. In mild cases, they may decide not to seek medical advice. Grade II and III sprains, however, are often seen by a doctor. The usual procedure is to have an X ray taken of the injured site. The X ray can be used to distinguish between a sprain and a fracture.

TREATMENT

---

The treatment of fractures depends on many factors, such as the seriousness of the injury, the patient's age, and his or her general health. In the case of serious fractures, a number of actions may be necessary. For example, patients with open fractures may need to have bleeding brought under control. They may also need antibiotics to protect against infection.

The fundamental goal in treating fractures is to restore a broken bone to its original position, if necessary, and then immobilize it. Bones begin to grow back soon after they are broken so this should be done by a trained medical person as soon as possible. In many cases, immobilization is the only treatment needed for a fracture. If there is displacement, the bone is first forced into the correct position and then held in place with a splint, cast, or brace. Once restored to its original position and held in place, the bone will re-grow to its former shape.

Getting the bone into its correct position is called fracture reduction. It can be done without breaking the skin or the doctor may need to perform surgery to realign the bones. Reduction done without breaking the skin is called a closed reduction and can be performed by a doctor with the patient under anesthetic. The doctor can move the bone parts around until they are back in their correct position. Some form of immobilization can then be applied.

Realigning the bones is sometimes difficult. The fractures may be complicated or serious enough to require an open reduction, or surgery, to reset the bones. The damaged area is cut open and the bones placed in their proper alignment. Devices such as plates, nails, screws, and rods may be used to hold the bones in this alignment while they heal. When healing is complete, the physician may or may not elect to remove these devices.

Traction is sometimes used to treat fractures. Traction involves the use of heavy weights to pull on a damaged bone. It forces the broken bone to line up correctly, the way it looked before the break. The traction may be necessary until the bone has grown back in its normal and correct position.

Treatment of Sprains and Strains

Grade I sprains and mild strains can be treated at home. Basic first aid for sprains consists of a system known as RICE. This term stands for four steps:

• R est
• I ce for forty-eight hours
• C ompression, such as wrapping the injured area with an elastic bandage
• E levation, or raising the sprained area above the heart

Over-the-counter pain medication, such as aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen, can be taken to relieve pain. Children should avoid aspirin, however, as it can cause Reye's syndrome (see Reye's syndrome entry).

People with grade II and grade III sprains should also follow the steps in RICE. They usually need additional treatment, however. In the case of sprains of the ankle or knee, they may need to stay off their feet by staying in bed or using crutches. Physical therapy or home exercises may be needed to restore normal joint function.

Grade III sprains usually require immobilization in a cast. The cast must stay on until the sprain heals, usually for several weeks. In extreme cases, surgery may be needed to repair torn ligaments. Physical therapy is often required after surgery.

Alternative Treatment

Calcium supplements are often recommended to help prevent fractures. The body uses calcium to build bones. Some physical therapists may recommend electrostimulation to treat a fracture. In electrostimulation, a small electrical current is passed through needles inserted near the damaged site. The electrical current is thought to increase the speed with which bones heal.

Two homeopathic remedies recommended for fractures are Arnica (pronounced AHR-nih-kuh) and Symphytum (pronounced SIM-fih-tum). These remedies are thought by some practitioners to increase the rate at which bones heal. Hydrotherapy is also recommended for fractures in the legs and arms. Warm water may increase the rate of circulation in the area and, thereby, the rate of healing.

Alternative treatments for sprains and strains may include the use of nutritional supplements, such as vitamin C and bioflavonoids. Certain herbs are recommended to reduce inflammation in a damaged area. These herbs include bromelain, turmeric, Arnica, Ruta, and Rhus toxicodendron.

PROGNOSIS

---

Fractures usually heal well when properly immobilized. Bones tend to grow back over time, correcting any breaks that may have occurred in them.

Chauncy Billups, a guard for the Denver Nuggets, grimaces after spraining his ankle during a game. (Reproduced by permission of

AP/Wide World Photos

)

A key factor in healing is prompt treatment. Bones that are not immobilized within six hours of injury are much more difficult to re-align. Healing time varies considerably, depending on many factors. In older people, for example, bones re-grow more slowly.

Mild and moderate sprains usually heal in less than four weeks. Severe sprains may take much longer. At one time, a torn ligament meant the end of an athlete's career. Today, advanced surgical procedures can be used. Nearly normal function can be restored. Even then, however, the joint is never as strong as it was before the injury.

PREVENTION

---

An adequate level of calcium in the diet is essential to reduce the risk of fractures. People with too little calcium in their diet tend to have weak bones that break more easily. Calcium supplements may be necessary if a person does not get enough of the nutrient in his or her regular diet.

Exercise can help strengthen bones. Older people in particular can benefit from a regular program of moderate exercise.

The risk of fractures can also be reduced by making use of safety measures. For example, passengers in cars should always wear seat belts. Anyone who engages in contact sports should use protective equipment available for the sport. Women past the age of fifty should consider taking estrogen replacement medication to help reduce the chance of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a weakening of bones that occurs commonly in women past the age of menopause.

Sprains and strains can be prevented by following some simple guidelines, including warming up before exercise, using proper lifting techniques, wearing properly fitting shoes, and taping or bracing joints that may receive unusual stress.