Not All Fun and Games- Sports Injuries
Sports. They’re all fun and games until someone gets hurt. And people get hurt all the time. Sometimes it’s a simple injury, just a sprained ankle, but it can be something severe, like tearing your anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
There are different types of sports injuries, including acute (sudden injuries) and chronic (injuries developed over a person’s athletic career) sports injuries. Injuries such as strains and sprains fall under the acute injury category, while tendonitis is a chronic injury. Some signs of an acute injury are sudden and severe pain, swelling, and limb weakness. Chronic injuries have long lasting pain or a dull ache in the injured area even after the initial injury has healed. These chronic injuries often lead to athletes having to retire at a young age.
Here are some injuries that are common in Winter/Spring sports:
Baseball and Softball Injuries
-Rotator cuff tears
-Ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injury
-ACL and medial collateral ligament (MCL)injuries
-Sprains and strains in ankles, elbows, and back
-Lower back injuries
-Dislocated shoulder
Track and Field Injuries
-Strains and sprains in upper and lower leg
-Knee injuries
-Ankle injuries
-Stress fractures
-Shin splints
-Tendonitis in knee and Achilles heel
-Iliotibial band syndrome
-Side stitches
-Pulled muscles
Soccer Injuries
-Sprains and strains
-ACL injuries
-Fractures and contusions from direct impact
-Shin splints
-Patellar and Achilles tendonitis
-Thigh and calf muscle strains
-Groin pulls
-Stress fractures
-Wrist injuries (such as breaks and sprains) from catching yourself wrong in a fall
-Concussion
Any number of things can cause a sports injury, from overexertion to not wearing proper safety equipment. So, rest when you can tell your body needs it. Don’t try to brave a game not wearing the proper pads or helmet. These pieces of equipment are worn for a reason. Train regularly so you become accustomed to the stress the sport you play puts on your body. Don't jump head first into an exercise or activity before performing the proper stretching or training required. That is the fastest way to injure yourself.
Treat strains, sprains, and joint injuries with RICE technique: Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation. Don’t use heat on a sports’ injury, and don’t massage the injury while it is still swollen. Heat and massage increase blood flow, which will cause the already swollen tissue to swell even more. Never just stop using the injured arm or leg. Rest for the first couple days after the injury, then slowly get back into your exercise routine. Don’t jump right back in. You have to build the strength back up in the injured area. Sadly, some injuries won’t heal properly without surgery or through the usual approach. These injuries will require physical therapy so they can heal properly and thoroughly.
If you have suffered from a sports injury, visit us here at HealthCARE Express and we’ll help you get back out there to playing the sports you love.
Have fun but stay safe,
Dr. Tim
