Rolled an ankle on a run. Tweaked your back lifting the shopping. Copped a knock on the footy field. When something goes “ping,” the first question is usually: do I need to go to hospital, or can this wait for a physio appointment?

Here’s a simple guide to help you decide

Go to the Emergency Department if you have:

• Obvious deformity or an open fracture If a limb looks visibly out of place, or bone is visible through the skin, this needs urgent medical attention.

• Inability to bear any weight or use the limb at all Some limping and soreness is normal after a knock. Complete inability to put any weight through a leg, or to move a joint at all, is a red flag for a possible fracture or serious ligament/tendon rupture.

• Loss of sensation, pulse, or colour change Numbness, tingling, a cold or pale limb, or a limb that looks blue or mottled below the injury site can indicate nerve or blood vessel involvement. This is time-critical.

• Signs of a spinal injury Any significant trauma (fall from height, car accident, diving injury) followed by neck or back pain, especially with numbness, weakness, or pins and needles in the arms or legs, needs immediate assessment.

• Cauda equina symptoms With severe low back pain, watch for: numbness in the saddle area (inner thighs, groin, genitals), new bladder or bowel changes (retention or incontinence), or progressive weakness in both legs. This is rare but is a medical emergency.

• A head hit/strike With any loss of consciousness, worsening headache, increasing drowsiness, or difficulty waking someone.

• Signs of infection A joint or limb that is red, hot, significantly swollen, and accompanied by fever needs urgent review to rule out septic arthritis or a serious infection.

• High-energy trauma Falls from height, high-speed accidents, or direct high-force blows even without obvious symptoms, warrant medical review/imaging, even if you can still move the area.

See a physio if you have:

• Sprains and strains where you can still move and partially weight-bear

• Gradual-onset pain that’s built up over days or weeks (e.g. from training load, poor lifting technique, or overuse)

• Ongoing stiffness or soreness after an initial injury has settled

• Pain that fluctuates with activity but isn’t associated with any of the red flags above

• A previous injury that’s flared up again

• Uncertainty about whether to rest or keep moving 

Our team at My Physio can properly assess the injury, screen for anything more serious (and refer you on for imaging or a medical review if needed). Let us get you started on the right rehab straight away. You can book online with us, here.

When in doubt

If you’re not sure which category you fall into, give us a call on 9447 6152 to ask. Trusting your gut matters too: if something feels seriously wrong, don’t talk yourself out of seeking urgent care.