Rider
Road Rash |
| Skin & Soft
Tissue Injuries |
| Self-Help Supplies |
All of the supplies needed or necessary that
are mentioned in our rehab guidelines and rehab exercising self-help
programs are available in our Bookstore.
Welcome to our "Rider Problems" and the discussions
on Road Rash. Road rash, as referred to by the riders, are injuries
to the skin and soft tissues below. Skin injuries, also called
"Wounds" are classified as either being closed or
open. The term "Open" or "Closed" refers
to the type of damage of the skin. Closed wounds are injuries
where the skin surfaces are not broken or torn open and there
is little to no external bleeding. Open wounds, on the other
hand are injuries in which the skin is torn and the deeper tissues
under are exposed. Bleeding in open wounds can range from very
little to a lot. |
| Closed Wounds (Bruises) |
| These types of injury result when the rider
falls and impacts with the ground or another object. Bruises,
also called "Contusions" from as a result. Remember,
although the skin is not broken, there may be extensive soft
tissue damage and body fluids leaking out of their vascular
channels, below it. You can always expect a varied amount of
bleeding at the time of injury and may continue up to a few
hours afterward. Swelling, due to fluid leakage, generally occur
immediately and in rare cases can be delayed for as much as
1 to 2 day following the injury. Next, blood clot form at the
injury site as the blood leaks out into the surrounding soft
tissues causing the "Black and Blue’’ discoloration. |
| Bruises |
| Bruises do require some care because they
will cause riding discomfort and mental distraction. What I
have found to work well is to apply a 4" or 6" ace
(pressure) bandage on them. This action will reduce bleeding
and help start the normal healing process. Bruises, if not wrapped,
will bounce and slap around under the skin becoming painful
during and after the ride. Also you can apply the N-1 or N-2
ceramic magnets to the area. You can also apply the Violet Ray
Tube to the area. And you can follow the RICES Rule starting
is the applications of cold (ice or cold pack). |
| Bruises With Bone Fractures |
Bone fractures with bruises do require your
immediate attention and action. At this point with this injury
it should be obvious that you are not going to make the next
moto and that you need to put 100% of your attention into this
problem. Your immediate actions should include:
1. Following the RICES Rule procedure
2. The application of two N-1 or two N-2 ceramic magnets using
the "North Poles"
3. The application of the violet Ray Tube
4. The possibilities of a 4" or 6" ace bandage wrap
before the application of the cold or ice water but after the
application of the Violet Ray Tube
Side Note: The application of an air splint will serve to control
bleeding and immobilize the suspected fracture. |
| Open Wounds |
As defined previously an open wound is one
in which the skin has been torn open, thus exposing the soft
and hard tissues underneath. There are many different types
of Open wound injuries but I have listed the 5 most common ones
generally seen at the races. In alphabetical order they are:
1. Abrasion
2. Avulsions
3. Incisions
4. Lacerations
5. Punctures
1. Abrasions
The abrasion is considered a lesser serious open wound injury.
A scratching, sanding, or tearing action between the skin surface
and the ground usually causes abrasions. In abrasion the tearing
of the skin surface usually does not penetration all the layers
of the skin. Abrasions are often times called "Road Rash"
by the riders. A little bleeding may result, but rarely do more
than a few drops of blood ooze from injured capillaries. They
are normally painful. A large amount of dirt may hr ground into
the wound, so contamination should be allowed for, even though
the wound seems to be minor. Abrasion normally are commonly
found on the areas of the body that come in contact with the
ground such as shoulders, elbows, forearms, hands, backs, hips,
and knees.
2. Avulsions
Avulsions are wounds in which flaps of skin, soft tissues, muscles,
or ligaments are torn loose or pulled off altogether from their
points of attachment. The most common type of simple avulsion
is when a hand blister, full of fluid, rips open and the skin
is pulls back or torn off (see "Blister"). In
raci41 more serious avulsions usually involve muscles and/or
ligaments being puts away from their attachment sites on the
long bones. I have seen them in the shoulders, elbows, hips,
and knee areas of the body. And on lesser occasions when the
rider’s gloves will get caught or pinched in a rolling
device, such as tires, spokes, or sprockets and the skin is
pulled back or stripped off. In an avulsion type accident should
result transport the avulsed part and the rider to the hospital
as it may be possible to surgically restore the pieces.
3. Incisions
An incision is a wound made by a sharp edged object, such as
scalpel, knife, razor blade, or piece of sheet metal. The cuts
are generally clean presenting a smooth cut appearance of the
skin edges and the underlying soft tissues. With incision type
cuts there is a lot of bleeding and if the cuts are long and
deep bleeding can be difficult to control or stop.
4. Lacerations
Laceration can occur from impact blows with the ground or from
blunt object but generally they are cause by the penetration
of jagged and sharp pieces of metal, broken glass bottles, and
other types of larger sharp objects. The classic characteristics
of lacerations include cutting and tearing of skin and soft
tissues below. And if blood vessels are cut or torn bleeding
will occur. And if those blood vessels are major ones bleeding
will be considerable. Some bleeding may be external but generally
the bleeding will be more internal. It is usually difficult
to determine the degree of internal tissue damage by looking
at the outside. So, always treat a laceration as more serious
problem until examination proves otherwise.
5.
Punctures
A puncture results when a sharp pointed object penetrates through
the skin and into the deeper soft and hard tissue below. Generally
there is little to no external bleeding but there could be profuse
or massive unseen internal bleeding below the skin. For this
reason always treat puncture wounds as serious until examination
proves otherwise. Puncture wounds have two classifications:
1. Penetrating
2. Perforating. |
| Penetration |
| A penetrating puncture wound is classified
as a shallow or deep wound that injures tissue and blood vessels
and may be caused by a sharp object. |
| Perforation |
| A perforating puncture wound have both an
entry and an exit. They are classified as a deep puncture wound
that passes through muscles, bones, nerves, and organs, causing
a great deal of internal injury. Gun shots, arrow wounds, foot
pegs, handle bar tips are just a few of the items which can
cause this type of injury. |
| Night Shade Foods |
| One more introduction before we go on to
the next chapter. Allow me to introduce you to a group
called the "Night Shades Foods". What is the
night shade group so important to know? Because the Night
Shade plants promote or cause "Inflammation". They
are: potatoes, tomatoes, green peppers, & eggplant.
Avoid the night shade foods if you have an inflammation or competition
in stressful physical activities. And whenever the condition
ends in "itis" also avoid the night shade foods. So,
you should avoid the night shade foods if you have bruises,
broken bones, or congestion of any kind. And if you are not
sure - avoid them until you are. For more information
read "How Health Or Disease Works" in the "Natural
Health" section of "Rider Remedies". |
| General Supplies for treatment
of Wounds |
The treatment supply list needed for initial
self management of burns and wounds are;
1. 2nd Skin
2. Neosporin
3. Elastikon tape
4. Large Band-Aids
5. Non—adherent sterile
3" x 4" pads
6. Hair clippers (battery
or electric operated)
7. N-1 ceramic magnets
8. Zip Lock baggies
9. Ice and water
10. Blanket for treating shock
We have available the above supply list in our bookstore |
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