An injury is defined as either acute, subacute or chronic, depending on the stag e of healing and the symptoms.

However, it's more accurate to define the stage of healing by the symptoms you s ee and feel, rather than a textbook definition of when a specific stage begins a nd ends. For example, an acute injury is defined as the first 72 hours after an injury. B ut if you sprain your ankle and continue to kick a soccer ball around, your acut e stage could last longer because you're irritating the tissue and prolonging th e inflammation and other symptoms. Also note that if you have an old (chronic) injury and it flares up, it is consi dered acute again. ACUTE: The acute phase of an injury is usualy defined as the first 72 hours after an in jury. An acute injury may include some or all of the following: - Most significantly: INFLAMMATION = Redness and swelling (However - note that with injury an to very deep or poorly vascularized areas sw elling and may not be noticeable.) - Sudden, severe pain - The inability to bear weight (for example: not being able to step on your foot without pain.) - Decreased mobility (for example: you suddenly can't lift your arm up as far as you used to.) - Muscle spasm - Extreme weakness - Visible dislocation or break of a bone - Red, black, blue bruising ... SUBACUTE Usually defined as 3 days to three weeks after an injury. May include some of all of the following: - Fragile scar tissue forming (Your body is regenerating and developing new tiss ue) - Yellow, green and brown bruising - Range of motion increases - Inflammation decreases ... CHRONIC Usually defined as any time after three weeks. May include some or all of the following: - Pain with movement is dull or achy, not sharp. - Pain at the very end of a range of movement. - Dull ache at rest

- Bruising is gone - Signs of inflammation are gone - Scar tissue is maturing