If the injury is serious enough, or if you want to involve a professional in your rehabilitation, there are a number of options available. While any of the following are great, you should never self-treat using them. Always involved a trained professional.
Therapeutic Massage
Massaging the injured area will increase blood flow and will also help to break up scar tissue, which will ultimately help prevent re-injury. A massage therapist can also provide specialized massage treatment to help promote healing in the injury without causing additional damage that untrained hands may unwittingly cause.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound has long been used to treat soft-tissue injuries. From tendonitis to bursitis to frozen joints and pulled muscles, ultrasound has been touted as the “miracle-machine” of physiotherapy. However, according to a study conducted at Ohio State University and reported in the International Journal of Sports Medicine, ultrasound may not do anything for musculoskeletal injuries.
TENS
TENS uses a mild electrical shock (hence the acronym: Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) to stimulate injured and painful areas. Theories suggest that TENS works by scrambling messages that nerves send to the brain or by eliciting a response from your body, causing it to release more endorphins. Whatever the mechanism, some people report that TENS helps reduce pain. One pluse to TENS is that after a brief instruction you can apply it to yourself in the comfort of your home—if you can afford the machine.
Infrared Laser
Your first thought might be science-fiction, but infrared lasers are gaining advocates when it comes to sports injuries. Many clinics and offices (doctor, chiropractor, and massage therapy) are now providing this up-and-coming option.
Basically, infrared laser therapy uses a low-level laser to stimulate cells in the injured areas. Reports indicate that the treated areas show increased cell activity, collagen production and synthesis, and nerve regeneration while reducing pain and inflammation. This therapy shows promise with soft-tissue injuries and wound-healing as well as some chronic problems like arthritis and fibromyalgia.