Sports-related injuries can happen to anyone. Even those who are in very good shape, stretch, and prepare can still suffer an injury during activity. Some injuries may be sudden. Others may develop slowly over time. Being aware of the most common sports-related injuries can help you minimize your risks and be prepared in the event you become injured.
Depending on the severity of your sports-related injury, your body may be able to fully heal. In other cases, you may require medical treatment. The faster you address your injuries, the sooner you’ll be able to return to your normal level of activity. Whether you’re an avid jogger, a high school athlete, or just like to kick the ball around over the weekend, successfully treating your sports-related injuries can help you get back on the field faster.
Common Types of Sports-Related Injuries
Every sports-related injury is going to be slightly different. That’s because every person is unique. Your injury will depend on what activity you were engaged in, as well as your unique body and your overall conditioning level.
Some people are more prone to knee injuries while others might be more susceptible to shoulder injuries. Likewise, some sports tend to produce more of one type of injury than another. For example, knee injuries may be more common in soccer and football than in swimming.
That said, there are some broadly common types of sports-related injuries. In general, these injuries are separated into two different categories: acute and chronic. Essentially, an acute injury is something like a broken bone or an ankle sprain. It’s something that happens all at once. A chronic injury is one that occurs over time, usually from strain over time or from overuse.
Common Injuries You May Encounter
Some of the most common specific types of injuries include:
- Rotator cuff injury: Your rotator cuff is made up of a group of muscles and ligaments. These muscles and ligaments help keep your shoulder joint together. The socket for your shoulder is pretty shallow, which helps give you a wide range of motion. But that shallowness also requires additional structure, which is what your rotator cuff provides. Injuries to the muscles or ligaments that make up your rotator cuff can be painful and limit the mobility of your entire arm.
- Tennis elbow: When the tendon located in the elbow is used frequently (and even sometimes when it isn’t), the tendon can develop tiny, microscopic tears. Collectively, these tiny tears can cause a significant amount of pain in your arm. This is a condition known as “Tennis elbow,” and it can take a significant amount of time to heal.
- Torn ligaments: Ligaments are kind of like the shoelaces of your skeleton. They help connect bone to bone. Sometimes these ligaments can become strained or even tear. The most well-known such injury is ACL or MCL tears, which occur in the knee. When this ligament tears, your mobility can be significantly curtailed. Sometimes ligament tears can be treated via physical therapy. In other cases, you may require surgery.
- Shin splints: This occurs when the tendons and muscles around your shin become inflamed (sometimes from overuse, but not always). Shin splints can cause pain when you run or even when you walk! The treatment for shin splints is often a combination of rest and strengthening your leg muscles.
- Sprains: When your ligaments extend beyond their natural capacity but do not tear, it can cause swelling. This swelling causes pain, and is the root cause behind a sprain. This most often happens in the ankle (and the ankle sprain is likely the most famous example), but you can sprain other ligaments as well.
In addition to the acute injuries above, it’s important to note that many chronic and overuse injuries can also occur in athletes of all ages. These could include “Little League Elbow” or “Runner’s Knee”–both of which will often result from overstress of the joint.
How Can Sports Related Injuries be Prevented?
Sometimes a sports related injury simply cannot be prevented. They will occur due to an accident or a bad landing or unexpected contact. However, that doesn’t mean that no sports injury can be prevented. In fact, there are many ways that you can lower your risks for sports related injuries. Here are some of the easiest and most common ways:
- Make sure to stretch thoroughly before and after any vigorous workout you may undergo.
- Try to warm up and cool down after vigorous workouts. (This will also help make your stretching more effective.)
- Listen to your body. If you’re experiencing pain, don’t push things too far. Talk to your provider to ensure that you will not further injure yourself.
If you have any doubts at all, make sure to talk to your provider or a doctor who has experience with sports related injuries.
When Should You See a Physical Therapist for a Sports Related Injury?
Many sports related injuries will heal on their own, especially given time and rest. However, that’s not true with every injury. When you become injured, you should check in with a sports injury doctor immediately. Your doctor may recommend physical therapy as a way to help relieve your symptoms.
Physical therapy can help build strength and flexibility in your muscles. After assessing the severity of your injury, your physical therapist will design a specific treatment plan just for you and your recovery goals. In some cases, your physical therapy treatment plan may also include chiropractic care.
There are significant benefits to using physical therapy. These benefits include faster healing, the prevention of future or further injury, and even preventing the need for surgery down the road.
Sports Injuries Happen, but they Don’t Have to Slow You Down for Long
Sports injuries can be especially frustrating. That’s because they often happen while you’re doing an activity you truly enjoy. The sooner you get your sports injury treated, the faster you’ll be able to return to the field–and get back to what you enjoy doing!
If you think you’ve experienced a sports related injury, talk to the experienced and talented team at Diaspo! We can help you get back on the field and back to the activities you enjoy.
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