Whether your favorite pastime positions you in the thick of the action on the court, field or rink, or a friendly round of table tennis is more your speed, there’s always an opportunity for athletic injury. Luckily, the majority of these typical mishaps are preventable when you outfit yourself with the right knowledge, skills and gear.
Let’s talk about some of the most common sports injuries and how to evade them.
We’ve all been there—we’re getting after it at a practice, pickup game or in the gym and something suddenly doesn’t feel quite right. The truth is, many athletic injuries can be caused by just such a drive to push yourself to the limit—overuse of a particular body part can be one of the most common causes of athletic-related pain. Stress on your muscles, tendons and bones can lead to a lingering or sudden injury—here are some more of the most common ways to spur it:
While good prevention can go a long way toward keeping athletic injuries at bay, sometimes they’re unavoidable. So which types of these sports fails are the most common to encounter? Let’s unpack some for which to keep your eyes peeled.
You know you’ve always been told to “stretch before exercising?” Well, whoever said it wasn’t lying. In fact, sprains and strains count as some of the most likely athletic injuries. When a given ligament is overstretched or torn, a sprain can occur—and when a muscle or tendon gets the same treatment, a strain can occur.
So you didn’t go to medical school and aren’t entirely sure what the difference is between a ligament and a tendon? Well, a ligament connects bone to bone, while a tendon connects bone to muscle. That being said, it can be easy to confuse the two in terms of symptoms. Signs of injury most commonly found in both strains and sprains include:
But one big differentiating factor in determining whether you’re dealing with a sprain is some residual bruising, spasms or cramping—these can be signs of an escalated issue, such as a torn tendon.
So how can you keep sprains and strains out of your medical chart? For starters, staying in good physical condition is the best way to avoid them. Ensure that stretching and strengthening exercises are part of your workouts.
If a sprain or strain has reared its ugly head, however, you have treatment options. Just remember the acronym RICE. It stands for rest, ice, compression and elevation.
If your symptoms continue after trying out these at-home care methods, see your doctor to talk about physical therapy options before returning to normal activities.
If sports with a little more hands-on action are your go-to, there’s one particular injury for which you should be on the lookout. Because of their prevalence in contact sports like football or wrestling, dislocations can be a complaint among athletes. When a bone slips out of a joint, such as a finger, shoulder, hip or even jaw, dislocation has occurred—and this is most often spurred by an unexpected impact, potentially damaging ligaments, nerves or blood vessels.
So how do you know you’re dealing with a joint dislocation? Let’s walk through the symptoms you should be on top of:
So what are the best ways to keep those joints where they belong? Start by wearing proper safety gear during contact sports. In addition, staying active and keeping the muscles and tendons around your joints strong can shore up your defenses against future dislocation. Maintaining a healthy weight can also go a long way to preventing this type of injury—undue pressure from excess weight can lead to dislocation.
To treat a dislocation, RICE (see “Sprains & Strains” above) is recommended as an immediate course of action, but most severe dislocations require a doctor’s attention. A medical professional may reposition the dislocation and prescribe medication. Just remember—if you suspect a dislocation, treat it as
High-impact activities can graduate to potentially even more serious injury—fractures. While not all fractures are built alike, they should all be taken seriously when it comes to recognizing and treating them. For example, a stress fracture can occur when a muscle is unable to absorb added shock, transferring it instead to a connected bone and spurring a small crack. A fracture can occur when a bone breaks, typically due to excessive force or pressure.
But what if you consider yourself “tough” and tend to brush over symptoms of sports injury? Here are some of the signs to look out for if you suspect you or someone else may be experiencing a fracture:
Severe fractures may exhibit additional symptoms, including pain or shock so intense the injured person may lose consciousness—let’s walk through a few of these types of fractures:
So now that we’re well-versed on some of the most painful types of fractures, let’s talk about how to prevent them, shall we? Unexpected impacts are sometimes impossible to avoid, but consuming enough calcium and vitamin D can be a big help in keeping your bones strong. You should also consider incorporating balance training into your workout regimen, as falls can also be a big factor in fractures.
All types of fractures require diagnosis and treatment from a doctor. A physician may recommend using the RICE method for stress fractures, and, depending on the severity, you may require a cast or boot. Treatment of a fracture depends on the type and location. The severity of your fracture could
Not all injuries exhibit immediate physical symptoms—but they can be just as damaging. If your favorite physical activities involve the potential for getting knocked around a bit, a concussion can be a common resulting injury. This is a condition caused by an impact that moves the brain rapidly inside the skull. Though it’s described as a mild brain injury, concussions need to be taken seriously, as it can have long-term effects.
So if you’re gauging whether or not you or a teammate or workout buddy is experiencing a concussion, some of the symptoms can be a clear sign it’s time for a checkup:
Wearing a helmet is key—and this includes when playing contact sports or something seemingly safe as riding a bicycle. Another way to help avoid concussion if you commonly engage in high-impact sports is strengthening your shoulder and neck muscles to absorb the shock of a hit to the head.
Concussion treatment requires a lot of rest. You’ll want to see a doctor, maybe even a specialist, depending on the severity of your injury. Most concussion symptoms last about a week—then you can usually ease back into
Athletic injuries are often about more than just that immediate pain. In fact, particularly when handled improperly, they can have dramatic long-term effects. (All the more reason to see a specialist ASAP to put together a course of treatment.)
For example, if exercise is part of your daily routine and helps contribute to your mental wellbeing, depression can sneak up on you when you’re down for the count. To combat this during your recovery period, consider giving yourself a consistent sleep schedule and consuming a healthy diet. And beyond these everyday home remedies, it can never hurt to talk to a mental health professional if your recovery period is weighing heavily on your thoughts.
Another potential lasting impact of a sports injury is arthritis, which entails a joint inflammation typically when surface cartilage is damaged. While it’s not an absolute occurrence when someone encounters an athletic injury, arthritis usually develops more quickly in people who’ve experience the above types of injuries than in those who haven’t. While it’s a condition that can’t be out-and-out prevented, there are methods your doctor can prescribe to minimize its impact.
The No. 1 way to be smart about avoiding athletic injury is prevention—heed the above advice to keep your body on the move. And if you’re set up to recognize when an injury may occur, the more quickly you act to treat it, the better. Talk to your doctor before starting a new fitness regimen—and always remember to listen to what your body is telling you. Exercise with caution, and your wellness will thank you
Sources:
https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/sprains-and-strains
https://www.healthline.com/health/sprain-vs-strain
https://www.healthline.com/health/dislocation#outlook
https://medlineplus.gov/dislocations.html
https://www.healthline.com/health/fracture
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15841-stress-fractures
https://www.cdc.gov/headsup/basics/concussion_whatis.html
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15241-bone-fractures
https://www.webmd.com/brain/concussion-traumatic-brain-injury-symptoms-causes-treatments#2
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15038-concussion
https://health.usnews.com/health-news/health-wellness/articles/2014/07/21/how-to-overcome-depression-after-a-sports-injury
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12061-arthritis
https://www.motleyhealth.com/fitness/the-importance-of-safety-equipment-in-sports-and-exercise