Sports Injuries
Whether you’re an elite athlete or a weekend warrior, if you play sports, you’ve probably faced an injury at some point. Sports injuries occur during exercise or while participating in a sport. Common sports injuries include sprains, strains, swollen muscles, shin splints, rotator cuff injuries, knee injuries, fractures, and dislocations. Some sports problems are acute, the result of a sudden event that causes very noticeable symptoms. Others are chronic,that may have more subtle signs, either at first or consistently over time.
Common Sports Injuries
Shoulder
The most common shoulder problem is either inflammation or tearing of the rotator cuff. However, other conditions, such as Frozen shoulder or labral tear may resemble symptoms of an injured rotator cuff and need to be considered as possible diagnoses.
Elbow
Tendon problems around the elbow, including lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow) and medial epicondylitis (golfer’s elbow), are the most common sports-related problems of the elbow joint
Wrist
Wrist fractures are among the most common broken bones in athletes. Landing from a fall onto an outstretched arm, for example, can lead to a wrist fracture that requires treatment.
Finger
Finger injuries including dislocation of finger joints and finger swelling are common, especially in ball sports like basketball and soccer.
Spine
Low back strains are by far the most common spinal injuries in athletes (or non-athletes).
Hip and Groin
Groin strains or pulls have always been a common hip pain diagnosis.
Thigh
A muscle strain, pull, or tear can occur in the hamstring, quadriceps, and adductor muscles in the thigh from a variety of different sports
Knee
Any injury that interferes with how the knee joint moves could be a sports injury. It could range from an overstretch to a tear in the muscles or tissues in the knee.
Ankle
Ankle sprains are by far the most common injuries of the ankle joint.
Foot
Plantar Fasciitis involves irritation of the thick, tough tissue that creates the arch of the foot. This plantar fascia tissue can become contracted and painful, leading to difficulty stepping on the heel of the foot.
Types of Sport Injuries
Different sports injuries produce different symptoms and complications. The most common types of sports injuries include:
Sprains
Overstretching or tearing the ligaments results in a sprain.
Strains
Overstretching or tearing muscles or tendons results in a strain.Strains are commonly mistaken for sprains.
Knee Injuries
Any injury that interferes with how the knee joint moves could be a sports injury
Achilles tendon rupture
The Achilles tendon is a thin, powerful tendon at the back of your ankle. During sports, this tendon can break or rupture.
Dislocations
Sports injuries may dislocate a joint in your body.
Swollen Muscles
Fractures
Rotator cuff injury.
Causes
Sports injuries typically fall into two categories, acute or chronic, and can stem from direct impact, loading (putting more force on a joint than it can handle), or overuse.
An acute injury is the result of an incident or accident that results in noticeable symptoms. For example, a slip, fall, tackle, or collision can result in an acute injury.
A chronic injury is longer-term. It may begin as an acute injury that does not heal completely or may be caused by overuse or improper form. Many athletes play through pain, which can lead to chronic injuries.
Symptoms
Sports injury symptoms can come on quickly at the point of injury or may appear gradually over the course of a few hours or days. Symptoms of a sports injury include the following.
- Pain
- Swelling
- Stiffness or limited range of motion
- Instability. An unstable joint feels loose or like it wants to buckle or give out.
- Weakness
- Numbness and Tingling
- Redness at the injury site can be due to inflammation, or to an abrasion, allergy, or infection.
Treatment
Serious sports injuries can require surgery and physical therapy. The RICE method is a common treatment regimen for sports injuries. It stands for:
- Rest
- Ice
- Compression
- Elevation
This treatment method is helpful for mild sports injuries. For best results, follow the RICE method within the first 24 to 36 hours after the injury
If symptoms still persist following is the treatment protocol:
- Immobilization with a splint, cast, or brace
- Medication for pain
- Pain-relieving injections, such as a cortisone shot
- Physical therapy
- Surgery
Diagnosis
- Physical Examination
- Medical History
- Imaging tests. X-rays, CT Scans, MRI Scans and UltraSounds