Final answer:
Carers often sustain severe muscle strain, a common injury where muscle fibers tear due to overstretching, leading to pain, stiffness, and sometimes bruising. Treatment consists of the PRICE method and possibly NSAIDs for inflammation.
Step-by-step explanation:
One of the most common injuries sustained by carers is severe muscle strain, which occurs when muscle fibers tear due to overstretching. The severity of a muscle strain can vary, presenting symptoms such as pain, stiffness, and bruising around the affected muscle, exemplified by the common occurrence of hamstring strains in athletes like sprinters. First aid for a muscle strain involves the acronym PRICE (protection, rest, ice, compression, and elevation), and in some cases, the use of anti-inflammatory medications like NSAIDs may be prescribed. Additional conditions related to muscle overuse and strain include tendinitis, characterized by the inflammation of tendons, and carpal tunnel syndrome, resulting from repetitive wrist motion or trauma causing median nerve compression.
Musculoskeletal disorders, like strains and tendinitis, are often related to workplace or sports activities and can be treated successfully, with complete recovery being very likely. It is crucial to properly warm up before strenuous activity to prevent these injuries, and to follow appropriate protocols, such as PRICE, when they do occur.