Swelling is usually quite obvious, and can be seen, but occasionally you may feel swollen without any outward signs. Swelling is always a sign of a sports injury and should never be ignored. Often, swelling within a joint will cause pain, stiffness, or may produce a clicking sound as the tendons snap over one another because they have been pushed into a new position due to swelling.

Reduced Range of Motion

If swelling isn't obvious, you can usually find it by checking for a reduced range of motion in a joint. If there is significant swelling within a joint, you will lose range of motion; the limb will only go so far in each direction. Compare one side of the body to the other with the other to identify major differences. If there are any, you have an injury that needs attention.

Joint Pain

Joint pain, particularly in the joints of the knee, ankle, elbow and wrist, should never be ignored. Because these joints are not covered by muscle, there is rarely a muscular origin. Joint pain that lasts more than 48 hours requires a physician diagnosis.

Tenderness at a Specific Point

If you can elicit pain at a specific point in a bone, muscle or joint, by pressing your finger into it, you may have a significant injury. Again, if the same spot on the other side of the body does not produce the same pain, you should probably see a physician.

Comparative Weakness

Comparing one side to the other for weakness is often hard to do, but can be a good clue to identify significant injury. One way to tell is to lift the same weight with the right and left sides and look at the results. Often therapists will test comparative weakness manually or with special equipment.

Numbness and Tingling

Never ignore numbness or tingling. Often related to nerve compression, these warning signs may indicate serious injury and should always be seen by a physician.

What If I Have a Warning Sign?

If you recognize any of the above warning signs - one of the goals is to prevent any further damage to the area. Don't let the problem get worse and don't let the swelling continue.

Look for an obvious cause of the injury such as poorly fitting equipment, or a missed step while sprinting, etc. If you can locate the source of the injury, you can begin to remedy the situation. If you have any of the above warning signs, do not continue your training or competition, but begin by getting treatment as soon as possible.