Sports Injury

What is Sports Injury?

Exercise is essential to good health, but people often get hurt when participating in sports or other physical activities. A sports injury involves damage to part of your body due to sports, exercise, or athletic activities.

A sports injury can be acute (sudden) or chronic (develop over time).

Sports injuries can occur throughout your body to bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and other structures. You can treat many minor injuries at home with rest, ice, compression, elevation, and over-the-counter pain medications. But some injuries require medical treatment, such as immobilization, physical therapy, and surgery.

What are the most common sports injuries?

Broken bone:

A broken bone (bone fracture) can happen when sudden force is applied to a bone.

Cartilage tear:

Cartilage is a rigid but flexible shock absorber that covers and protects the ends of some bones. Cartilage injuries can occur in joints such as your knee and shoulder.

Concussion:

A concussion is a brain injury caused by a bump or blow to your head.

Dislocation:

Dislocation occurs when the end of a bone moves out of its normal position in a joint. For example, if your shoulder pops out of its socket, it’s dislocated.

Tendinitis:

Tendinitis occurs when your tissues that connect muscles to bones (tendons) become swollen and inflamed. Repetitive movements cause it over time. An example is a jumper’s knee (patellar tendonitis).

Sprains:

A sprain happens when a ligament stretches too much or tears. Ligaments connect bones and stabilize joints. These injuries can be mild or severe, common in your ankle, knee, and wrist.

Strains:

A strain occurs when you overextend a muscle, and it stretches or tears. Examples include hamstring strain, back strain, and abdominal strain.

What causes sports injuries?

Sports injuries have many causes, including:

1

Accidents, such as a fall.

2

Bad habits with exercise, such as not warming up or stretching enough.

3

Lack of safety equipment or gear that’s damaged or worn incorrectly.

4

Shoes that don’t fit well or provide enough support.

5

A sudden start to an exercise program or significant increase in physical activity your body isn’t used to.

What are the symptoms of a sports injury?

The signs and symptoms of a sports injury depend on the type of injury. Common symptoms include:

1

Aches, pain, or tenderness.

2

Bruising.

3

Deformity, such as a bone or joint looking out of place.

4

Decreased range of motion.

5

Grinding, cracking, clicking, or popping noise.

6

Inability to bear weight on your hip, leg, or foot.

7

Skin that’s warm to the touch.

8

Stiffness or weakness.

9

Swelling.

10

Trouble moving a body part usually (for example, you can’t move it as far, or it locks up when you try to move).

How is a sports injury treated?

Treatment for sports injuries varies widely, depending on the type and severity. Many sports injuries heal in a few days or weeks with rest and at-home strategies. But for more severe injuries, treatment may involve:

Immobilization with a cast, splint, sling, walking boot, or other medical device.
Surgery to correct fractures or repair ligament, tendon, or cartilage tears. Injections to reduce swelling and pain.
Prescription anti-inflammatory medications. Physical therapy (rehabilitation or rehab) to heal and strengthen injured body parts.

Treatment for sports injuries

Treatment depends on the type and severity of the injury. What you may think is a straightforward sprain may be a fractured bone. Always see your doctor if the pain persists after a couple of days.

Physiotherapy can help to rehabilitate the injured site and, depending on the injury, may include exercises to promote strength and flexibility. Returning to sport after injury depends on your doctor’s or physiotherapist’s assessment.

A previous injury is the most significant risk factor for soft tissue injury. While the injury heals, you can maintain your fitness by choosing forms of exercise that don’t involve that part of your body. Trying to play before the injury is appropriately healed will only cause further damage and delay recovery.

How is a sports injury diagnosed?

To diagnose a sports injury, your healthcare provider performs a physical exam. They’ll ask questions about what happened and what symptoms you’ve had. They’ll also look at the injured area, possibly testing how it moves.

Depending on your type of injury and its severity, your healthcare provider may also recommend imaging tests. An X-ray, CT scan, or MRI can create pictures of the structures inside your body. The images will help your healthcare provider understand, diagnose and treat your specific injury.

What can I expect if I have a sports injury?

The outlook after a sports injury varies, depending on the type and severity. Most sports injuries are minor and heal in a few days or weeks with rest and simple recovery strategies. Other injuries, such as broken bones and concussions, need medical intervention and can take several months to heal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Physical Therapy Help With Neck Pain?

Physical Therapy Can Treat Different Diseases And Conditions, Including Neck Pain. Depending On Whether The Neck Pain Is Due To Muscular Strain, Injury, Wearing Of Joints, Inflammation, Nerve Problems, Or Other Reasons, The Physical Therapist Will Suggest The Proper Therapy And Exercise To Help Ease The Pain.

What Does Physical Therapy Of The Neck Consist Of?

Physical Therapy Of The Neck Consists Of Various Exercises That Target Different Areas Around The Neck. Head And Shoulder Rolls Reduce Stiffness And Work As A Warm-Up Before Other Exercises. There Are Plenty Of Exercises Which Include Stretching And Tilting. Chin Tucks Are Also One Of The Common Physical Therapy Exercises For The Neck.

How Do You Assess Neck Pain?

A Professional Physical Therapist Better Diagnoses And Assesses Your Neck Pain. They'llthey'll Examine Different Areas Around Your Neck, Try To Find The Exact Regions Which Are Hurting, And Check The Level Of Mobility, Which Means How Well You Can Move Your Neck Around Without Experiencing Discomfort And What Types Of Movements Cause The Pain To Increase In Intensity.

When Should I Worry About Neck Pain?

Generally Speaking, You Should Worry About Neck Pain If You Have Shooting Pain From The Shoulder Down The Arm, Lose Strength In The Arms And Hands, And If The Neck Pain Is Accompanied By Any Type Or Degree Of Numbness In The Arms And Hands. You Should Seek Immediate Medical Care For Your Condition In Any Of These Instances.