It is said that the number one reason people play sports is because it is fun. However, sports injuries can happen, and they can happen anywhere in the body, especially if your forte involves testing the laws of physics or gravity. The most common sports injuries tend to be fairly minor: bruises, sprains, and strains. Still, there are more serious injuries for athletes depending on the region and type of activity.
Exercising by playing sports can be very beneficial to your health, but sometimes these benefits to your health are outweighed by negative things, such as an injury. The severity of these injuries can range from minor to very serious, with some injuries requiring surgery to fully heal. These injuries may be caused from poor training practices, improper equipment, flawed techniques, or may just be an accident. Injuries can also occur when a person is not properly conditioned to play the sport, such as not warming up or stretching muscles beforehand.
Here are 5 of the most common sports related injuries:
1. Strains and sprains: By far, these are the most common type of sports injuries, and can occur in almost any type of physical activity. A sprain occurs when a ligament (band of connective tissue that attaches bones to other bones) tears or is overstretched. These can range from minor to complete tears where the ligament is severed. A sprain is most common in wrists, ankles, or knees. A strain is also known as a pulled muscle, and occurs when the fibers within a muscle or tendon stretch too far or tear. Strains can also be minor to severe.
2. Knee Injuries: Research shows, that every year, over five million people visit orthopedic surgeons for knee related injuries and problems. Mild knee injuries include iliotibial band syndrome, runner’s knee (tenderness or pain near the front of the knee cap), or tendonitis (degeneration or inflammation within a tendon). Severe knee injuries can involve damage or bruising to ligaments. ACL and MCL injures and tears are very common sports injuries, particularly in contact sports like football. Cartilage tears in the knee also very common, especially in those who dance or do gymnastics.
3. Shin Splints: A shin splint is when pain along the shin bone (tibia) occurs. This pain is usually at the front outside part of the lower leg, but can also occur in the foot and ankle (anterior shin splints) or where the bone meets the calf muscles at the inner edge of the bone (medial shin splints). Shin splints are common with runners and even more-so when the runner runs on hard surfaces. Failing to warm up or stretch, improper running techniques, running in shoes that lack support, or having “flat feet” all can contribute to shin splints. If you are a runner, it is important to wear the proper shoes and change them every 500 miles or so.
4. Fractures: Commonly referred to as a broken bone, fractures are a fairly common sports injury caused by a one-time injury to the bone (an acute fracture). Repeated stress on a bone over time (a stress fracture) can also occur. Small cracks a complete break will occur with an acute fracture. Most are classified as emergencies, and may even need surgery to completely repair. A stress fracture occurs most of the time in the legs or feet from sports that cause repetitive impact, such a running or jumping sport. There are 4 types of fractures: oblique, where the bone breaks diagonally, spiral, where a rotating force is applied along the axis of a bone, comminuted, where the bone is in pieces and compound, where the bone breaks the skin.
5. Dislocations: Dislocations occur when force pushes the bones in a joint out of alignment. Contact sports such as football or an activity such as excessive stretching or falling can cause dislocations. A dislocation will usually require medical treatment and be treated as an emergency. The dislocated bone may be able to be put back in place, but the connective tissue surrounding the joint may have severe damage. The most common joints that are dislocated are the fingers and hand, with the shoulder being close behind. Elbows, knees, and hips can be dislocated but are less common.
Don’t ever try to “work through” the pain of a sports injury. It is advisable to stop what you are doing when you feel pain. Playing or exercising more will cause more harm. Your injury should be evaluated by a doctor right away. In many cases it is a good idea to use the RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation) method as soon as an injury occurs. This will help relieve pain, reduce swelling, and speed healing.
Here are some other things your doctor may do to treat your sports injury:
Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
You may be given a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) like ibuprofen. This reduces swelling and pain, and can be purchased over-the-counter.
Immobilizing the injury is often a treatment for sports injuries. It keeps the area from moving and prevents further injury. Casts, slings, splints and leg braces are used to immobilize sports injuries.
In some cases, you may need surgery to fix sports injuries. Surgery can fix torn tendons or stabilize a broken bone. Surgery is usually only required for very severe injuries.
Physical Therapy can be key to proper treatment and healing. It involves massage, stimulation and exercise for the injured area to get it back to normal. Moving helps with healing, so the sooner this is done, the better. Exercises begin with carefully moving the injured part of the body for improving range of motion. Next comes stretching. As you progress and heal, weights may be added to help regain strength.
Although it is recommended to start moving as soon as possible, you must also rest the injury. Injuries need time to heal and rest helps with this process. Your doctor can give you advice on the proper balance between rest and rehab.
As eager as you might be to get back to your sport, you shouldn’t play until you are sure you can move and stretch the injured area without pain, swelling, or stiffness. When you start back, begin slowly and build up to full speed.
If you are suffering from a sports related injury, call Orthopaedic Associates of Central Maryland at (410) 644-1880 to make an appointment. Visit www.mdbonedocs.com for more information.