Sports Injuries

Everything You Need To Know About Sports Injuries

What are Sports Injuries?

Sports injuries are common among sports personalities and those who exercise regularly. Children are at greater of sports injuries. Sudden exercise involvement, especially after being inactive for a long time, playing contact sports for a long time, and not warming up before exercise, can lead to sports injuries.

Stages and Types of Sports Injuries

Sports injuries are categorized into two kinds:

Acute Injuries: These injuries occur all of a sudden. Occasionally, acute injuries result from wear and tear from overuse injuries.

Chronic Injuries: These result from the overuse of muscles and tendons over time.

Symptoms of Sports Injuries

A sports injury can be identified with the following symptoms:

  • Sudden, severe pain
  • A bone or joint that is visibly out of place
  • Intense weakness of an injured limb
  • Swelling or bruising
  • Pain while exercising or playing
  • Inability to add weight on a leg, knee, ankle, or foot
  • Swelling and a dull ache while resting
  • Inability to move a joint normally

Risk Factors of Sports Injuries

Lack of Proper Training: An experienced coach can help players understand the importance of wearing appropriate footwear and equipment while playing a sport. It is vital to get proper training and practice before playing sports.

Environmental Factors: Playing on a surface a player is not used to can lead to injuries due to poor performance.

Safety Hazards: Lack of proper safety measures on the playground and requisite areas can lead to injuries.

Flexibility: Overstretching a muscle can lead to sports injury. This may happen when players ignore stretching and warming up before the game.

Nutrition: Not paying attention to diet can lead to low energy and tiredness, making one vulnerable to sports injuries.

Fitness Levels: An individual with a low fitness level gets tired and injured quickly.

Age: As an individual gets older, they are more prone to injuries as their bones get weaker, which adds to their risk of injuries.

Weight and Size: An overweight player is more prone to injuries as they can stress muscles more.

Causes of Sports Injuries

A force of impact more significant than the body part can bear is the leading cause of acute sports injuries. On the other hand, a chronic injury is mainly due to repeating similar motions again and again. In some cases, overuse of injuries can damage tissues and joints. This may lead to an acute injury.

Prevention of Sports Injuries

You can minimize the risk of sports injuries by following the measures listed below:

  • Drink plenty of fluids before, during, and after the game.
  • Remember to warm up before an exercise. This is also important before playing a sport.
  • Always wear appropriate footwear.
  • Speak to your coach or a doctor to learn when and how to tape or strap vulnerable joints. This helps you to prevent injuries.
  • Always wear appropriate safety equipment before playing a sport, such as gloves, pads, helmets, and mouth guards.
  • It is best to avoid exercising during the hottest part of the day (generally between 11 am and 3 pm).
  • Sports demand a lot of energy and fitness. Hence, it is advised to maintain fitness during the off-season to ensure you stay safe when you resume playing.
  • Speak to your doctor and create a plan for regular medical checkups.
  • It is recommended to cross-train with other sports. This will help you to maintain overall fitness and muscle strength.
  • Always use good form and technique. Training under an experienced coach will help you do so.
  • Ensure training includes appropriate speed and impact. This is important to add strength to the muscles to meet the demands of a game situation.
  • Strictly avoid over-exerting beyond your level of fitness. The intensity should be increased slowly under the guidance of a professional coach.
  • Cooling down is crucial after sport or intense exercise.
  • Giving oneself ample recovery time between sessions will help avoid sports injuries.

Frequently Asked Questions

Many sports injuries can be treated without surgery. Surgeries are required for severe sports injuries. For instance, when the injury leads to tearing connective tissues or a deformity or disability due to joint dislocation would require surgery.

You can contact a general physician or a physiotherapist if the injury is minor. Severe injuries can be handled by an orthopedic surgeon specializing in bone and joint diseases. In some cases, patients may require rehabilitation or a dedicated exercise program under the guidance of a physiotherapist.

You can take some measures to prevent a sports injury. Doctors recommend stretching with feet as flat as possible and warming up before an exercise such as jogging. Strictly avoid overusing a limb. Other measures include cooling down after an energetic sport, properly fitting shoes, and wearing adequate protective gear while playing sports.

Strains are the most common of all sports-related injuries. This is due to the overuse of muscles and tendons while exercising or playing a sport. The body's moving parts are more prone to stretching, resulting in tears, damage, and soreness.

Observe symptoms to understand the need for medical assistance. For instance, sports injuries should be treated under medical care if you experience much pain walking. See a doctor if you have numbness in the affected area or cannot move it. Any redness or red streaks that spread out from the injured area should not be ignored.

An athlete may require an x-ray under a few conditions. When any injury fails to respond to basic first aid measures, the doctor may recommend an x-ray. Additionally, the athlete must seek a physician's care if the symptoms worsen. If an athlete is suffering from excessive swelling, boney tenderness, or decreased range of motion, it is suggested that he/she seek immediate medical assistance.

Ice is the most recommended therapy for a sports injury. The application of heat can increase swelling in the area and delay recovery. It is advised to apply ice directly to the affected area for 20 -60 minutes.

Most chiropractors advise patients to rest the affected area for around 48 hours. The accurate rest period depends on the severity of the injury. Excess rest can worsen one's general condition by weakening the injured area. However, it is important to carefully reintroduce activity without delay.

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