Skin abrasions, lacerations and blisters are three (3) other soft tissue injuries, but all occur at the skin level and result from external forces.
Skin Abrasions
A skin abrasion is a scraping or wearing away of the skin and is usually not very deep. Usually an abrasion is referred to as a graze. These are common injuries in any sport, especially those where the athlete may frequently fall or be tackled. and example of an abrasion is a grazed knee from a slide tackle in soccer.
The treatment for skin abrasions is normally to clean the wound, washing it with a disinfectant and then covering it with a non-stick dressing. In the case of a more serious abrasion the management of blood loss will become the priority, though this is very rare for an abrasion.
Laceration
A laceration is a deep cut or tear to the skin of resulting from contact with a sharp device. So a cut from a kitchen knife is a laceration, but also a cut from an ice-hockey skate, bob-sled or a tear from a stud in rugby. Lacerations often result after a head clash or contact with other sport specific equipment. An example is an ice-hockey player who gets hit with a stick cutting his skin open.
The treatment for a skin laceration is to manage bleeding. Applying pressure to the area. Depending on the severity of the laceration, medication attention and stitches or surgery may be needed. For self-managed lacerations, cleaning the wound and applying a non-stick dressing with pressure to control bleeding is usual. If bleeding does not stop quickly, ice can be used, and medical treatment is needed.
Blister
A blister is caused by friction or burning that leads to a build up of serum in the skin. Athletes often get blisters on their feet due to friction from their shoes. Most often blisters are caused by equipment such as a tennis racquet or soccer boot.
The treatment for a blister, is to cover it with padding, often in the form of a Band-Aid and remove the object causing the friction/burning. Do not pop the blister, but allow it to heal.