Management of Soft Tissue Injuries

This chapter is intended to help primary care physicians and other providers of health care to adolescents to become more knowledgeable about the management of soft tissue injuries. Discussion includes the pathophysiology of injury, the assessment of the degree of injury, and the rationale for the RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) method of acute treatment. Principles of rehabilitation are also discussed along with objective criteria that can be used to make return-to-play decisions following a soft tissue injury.