Get it checked at Bodyline Health, Lower Plenty
We see patients from across the Diamond Valley, including Eltham, Greensborough, Montmorency, Rosanna and Heidelberg. No referral needed, free parking, onsite X-ray when clinically indicated and HICAPS claiming on the spot.
Written by Dr Phillip Mifsud, Chiropractor & Exercise Physiologist and founder of Bodyline Health, Lower Plenty. Based on Dr Phil’s own video and clinical experience.
Watch the video
What Happens When You Hurt Your Muscles or Joints?
Dr Phil explains this in under two minutes.
The Pac-Man analogy
This is one of the most common questions Dr Phil is asked. His simple explanation uses Pac-Man.
Stage 1: inflammation
When you first hurt yourself, the area goes red, hot and angry. That is inflammation. White blood cells (the Pac-Men) rush to the area, bringing fluid with them. The swelling pushes on nerve endings and sends more pain signals to your brain. At the same time, the Pac-Men are eating up the debris and cleaning up damaged tissue.
Stage 2: repair
Once the clean-up is under way, the body sends in a second wave to lay down collagen, the material that fills holes and gaps. It does this quickly rather than neatly.
Stage 3: remodelling
Think of a cut on your skin: at first the scar is raised and pink, and over the following year it smooths out. Muscles, tendons and ligaments do the same, gradually reorganising the repair into stronger, more functional tissue.
Why managing inflammation matters most early on
Managing inflammation is the most important part of reducing pain in the early stage, because the swelling itself is what drives many of the pain signals.
How treatment speeds up healing
As chiropractors and sports therapists, the goal is to help speed the whole process up:
- Helping move fluid out of the area to reduce swelling
- Settling the early inflammatory phase so pain eases sooner
- Guiding movement and loading so the repair remodels into strong, functional tissue
Ice or heat for a new injury?
For a fresh injury, Dr Phil’s advice is to do what you see athletes do on TV: ice it, not heat it, in the first couple of days. Help Pac-Man do his job, and you will generally get through it quicker.
Who at Bodyline Health can help with hurt a muscle or joint?
Because Bodyline Health has several disciplines under one roof at 17 Main Road, Lower Plenty, your care can be shared between practitioners who talk to each other.
- Dr Phillip Mifsud (Chiropractor and sports therapist): acute injury management and guiding your return to activity.
- Mary Fleming (Physiotherapist): rehabilitation through the repair and remodelling stages.
- Keryn Arrowsmith (Myotherapist): soft tissue treatment as the injury settles.
- Wayne Grant (Naturopath): nutrition to support recovery.
When to seek urgent medical help
Seek medical care if you cannot bear weight or use the limb, if there is obvious deformity, numbness or loss of colour, severe swelling, or if the area becomes increasingly hot and red with a fever, which can indicate infection.
Further reading on hurt a muscle or joint: Sprains and strains (Healthdirect Australia).
Common questions
Why does an injury swell?
White blood cells rush to the area and bring fluid with them. This inflammation cleans up damage but also increases pressure and pain signals.
What are the stages of healing?
Inflammation (clean-up), repair (new collagen fills the gap) and remodelling (the repair is reorganised into stronger tissue over months).
Should I ice or heat a new injury?
For a fresh injury, ice rather than heat in the first couple of days to help settle inflammation.
How can I heal an injury faster?
Settle the early inflammation, then gradually reintroduce movement and load so the tissue remodels strongly. Guidance from a practitioner helps get the timing right.
Why does a healed injury still feel stiff?
The repair tissue is still remodelling, which can take months. Guided exercise helps it become more flexible and functional.
This article is general information, not a diagnosis or a substitute for individual medical advice. If you are unsure, see your GP or book an assessment.
