Sports are a great way to have fun, stay active, and build team skills for kids and adults, but with the excitement of playing sports comes a great risk of injury. Sports injuries can happen with any sport or exercise due to improper equipment or technique, lack of conditioning or warm-up, and overtraining.
Let’s take a close look at some of the most common sports injuries and what you can do to get back in the game.
- Strains and Sprains – Almost anyone who has ever played sports has endured a strain or sprain at one time or another. Most occur around the joints due to torn or overstretched ligaments. The most common sprain is in the ankle; it can keep an athlete out for several days or weeks.
- Neck or Back Strain – The muscles in the back can be affected by small muscle tears or strains over time.
- Plantar Fasciitis – The front of the foot is connected to the heel with a ligament known as the plantar fascia. When this ligament gets inflamed, you may experience heel pain after being active or when you get out of bed. This injury is common in runners but can occur in anyone who puts severe stress on their feet, has high arches, tight calves, or carries extra weight.
- Meniscus Tears – The knee contains cartilage that absorbs shock between the shinbone and thighbone. When this cartilage gets stiff, overactivity can put you at risk for a tear. This is seen more often in adults as stiffening occurs more with age.
- Concussion – TBI (traumatic brain injury) happens with rapid acceleration in the brain, also known as a concussion. These typically occur with a direct hit to the head or body, which happens in high-impact sports like football. Symptoms often include loss of consciousness, drowsiness, headache, nausea, vomiting, and/or memory loss.
- Fractures – Fractures can happen to any type of athlete regardless of the type of sport. Any time a bone is hit with great force or impact, it is at risk of fracture, accompanied by severe pain.
Prevention and Treatment
To avoid common sports-related injuries, certain precautions should be taken. For starters, use the recommended equipment. Rest your body between workouts; this allows you time to restore and repair. Listen to your body; at the first sign of discomfort, pain, or stress, you should stop.
These steps can help you prevent most common injuries from happening. If an injury does occur, it is important to see your doctor right away; many can be healed with time and rest, but more severe cases may require more aggressive treatments. It is important to be examined by a professional healthcare provider to ensure you receive professional treatment so you can heal properly.
For more information on the treatments we provide for sports injuries, call our office at (561) 469-6699.