Many enjoy playing sports to stay healthy, have fun, and challenge themselves. However, it also comes with the possibility of getting injured. Sports injuries can affect various parts of the body such as the joints, muscles, bones, tendons, and ligaments. These injuries can vary in severity and impact -from minor sprains and strains that heal quickly to severe fractures and dislocations that require surgery and rehabilitation.

This article discusses various aspects of sports injuries – types, causes, diagnoses and treatment. We will also discuss precautionary methods to prevent such injuries.

6 Common Types of Sports Injuries

While sports injuries can vary widely in nature, some of the most common are:

1. Sprains and strains

Ligament injuries, including sprains and strains, are common. Ligaments are tensile bands of tissue that connect bones and stabilise joints. Muscles are soft tissues that move bones and joints by contracting and relaxing. Extending these tissues beyond their usual range of motion can cause them to stretch or tear.

Some common examples of sprains and strains are:

• Ankle sprains, when the ankle rolls inward or outward and damages the ligaments.
• Hamstring strains occur when the back of the thigh muscle stretches or tears too much.
• Groin pulls can happen when the inner thigh muscle strains or tears.

2. Knee injuries

Knee injuries are another common type of sports injury that affects the knee joint or the surrounding tissues.

Additionally, the knee joint comprises two cartilage fragments termed menisci, which cushion and stabilize the joint. Knee injuries can happen when these structures are damaged.

Some common examples of knee injuries are:

• ACL tears: When the ACL, which connects the femur to the tibia, gets torn by a sudden change of direction or landing.
• Meniscus tears: Occur when a twisting or bending motion pulls the meniscus, a shock-absorbing structure that connects the femur and tibia.
• Patellar dislocations: When the patella which covers and protects the knee joint slips out of its normal position.
• Swollen muscles: Can be caused due to overuse or trauma that injures or inflames the muscles. It can cause pain, stiffness, and reduced function. The most common examples of swollen muscles are:

4. Pain along the shin bone

The larger of the two bones in our lower leg is the shin bone. It is attached to various muscles and tendons that help move and support the foot and ankle.

Repetitive stress or impact irritates or inflates the muscles and tendons causing a sports injury. This can cause pain, tenderness, and swelling along the inner or outer border of the shin bone.

Shin injuries are commonly of the following types:

5. Fractures

Fractures are a common sports injury affecting the bones. Bones are stiff, rigid structures that form the skeleton and support the body. Breakage of bones due to excessive force or pressure exceeding their strength is known as fracture. This can result in severe pain, swelling, deformity, and loss of function.

Some of the common sports-related fractures are:

• Wrist fracture: When the wrist bends backwards or twists too much, causing the bones to snap or crack.
• Ankle fracture: Inward or outward rolling of the ankle can put too much pressure on the bones, resulting in their breakage.
• Rib fractures: These can occur when a blunt force, such as a fall or a punch, hits or compresses the ribs and cracks them.
• Knee fractures: Severe knee injuries can fracture the kneecap or the lower leg bones and also damage the ligament (ACL, anterior cruciate ligament) that runs from the front of the thigh to the inside of the lower leg. Knee injuries can happen when the knee changes direction suddenly or lands awkwardly.

6. Dislocations

Dislocations are another kind of sports injury affecting the joints. Bones connect at joints, which allow for movement. When a joint dislocates due to a vital force or impact, the bones move out of their normal position making them unstable. It can cause pain, swelling, instability, and loss of function.

Here are some of the common examples of dislocations:

• Shoulder dislocations: This can happen when the bone in the upper arm slips out of place and breaks out of the shoulder socket.
• Elbow dislocations: The lower arm bones separate from the upper arm bone at the elbow.
• Finger dislocations: When the finger bones separate at the knuckles.

Symptoms of Sports Injuries

Sports injury symptoms can vary in intensity and location and can show up immediately or after a few hours or a few days.

Some of the common symptoms are:

• Pain: One of the primary symptoms, this is the body’s signal that something is wrong. Pain can vary in intensity and location.
• Swelling: Inflammation is the body’s response to injury and the beginning of the healing process. It can also cause stiffness and a reduced range of motion.
• Stiffness: This is caused as a result of reduced joint mobility due to swelling, muscle spasms, or scar tissue formation. Stiffness can limit your ability to perform specific movements or activities.
• Bruising: Bleeding under the skin results in discolouration of the skin. It can indicate damage to blood vessels, muscles, tendons, or ligaments.
• Deformity: A deformity is a visible change in a bone or joint’s structure or position. The deformity can indicate a fracture, dislocation, or severe sprain.
• Reduced range of motion: Reduced range of motion is a symptom of decreased joint flexibility due to swelling, stiffness, pain, or injury. A reduced range of motion can affect your performance and function.

Diagnosis and treatment of sports injuries

To diagnose your injury, your doctor will likely:

• Ask about the injury and how it happened.
• Ask about any recreational or occupational activities you do and if you recently changed the intensity level of these activities.
• Examine the injured area.
• Order imaging tests such as X-ray or MRI scans to evaluate the bones and soft tissues.

The kind and severity of a sports injury determine the course of treatment, but it usually involves:

• Rest: Limiting activities utilising the damaged region. Using or putting weight on an injured body part will be restricted.
• Ice: Apply an ice pack to the affected area regularly. You can use a towel-wrapped plastic bag with crushed ice inside it or an ice pack, cold pack, or something similar.
• Compression: Applying an elastic bandage to the afflicted region to reduce swelling and bleeding. Do not wrap it too tightly, as it may cut off blood flow and cause more swelling.
• Elevation: Raising the injured area above the level of your heart to help drain excess fluid and reduce swelling.
• Pain relievers: Using over-the-counter pain medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to ease pain and inflammation. Follow the directions on the label and only take what is recommended.
• Anti-inflammatory drugs: Your physician may prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs such as NSAIDs, and Corticosteroids to reduce inflammation and pain. Comply with your doctor’s recommendations and be mindful of the possible side effects, such as stomach ulcers, bleeding problems, kidney damage, or increased blood pressure.
• Physical therapy: This is an important part of recovery. Exercises and stretches prescribed by your physical therapist to restore strength, flexibility, and function to the injured area can be of great help. Physical therapy can also help prevent stiffness, scar tissue formation, and re-injury.
• Immobilisation devices: Using splints, braces, casts, or crutches to bolster and safeguard broken bones and soft tissues may be advised at times. Immobilisation devices can limit movement in the area and enable blood flow to the injury site, thus helping to reduce pain, swelling, and muscle spasms and facilitate the healing process. Most people need immobilisation only for a limited time.
• Surgery: Surgery may be required in extreme cases to realign shattered bones or restore torn connective tissues. Surgery can restore stability and function to the injured area.

Preventing sports injuries

While nothing can guarantee that a sportsperson won’t ever get injured, here are some precautions you can take to reduce the likelihood of such occurrences:

• Warming up before starting a heavy physical activity can prepare your body well. Warming up involves low-intensity activities that increase blood flow and temperature of the muscles and joints.
• An equally important aspect is cooling down after a game. Cooling down involves a range of low-intensity activities that decrease blood flow and temperatures of the muscles and joints. It helps relax the body after a workout, thus preventing the chances of injuries.
• Stretching before and after a game through gentle movements can stretch and release the tendons and muscles and increase flexibility.
• Wearing protective gear can safeguard the body from impact, friction, or abrasion. Using protective equipment such as helmets, pads, gloves, shoes, and mouthguards can help lower the danger of injuries. helmets, pads, gloves, shoes, and mouthguards.
• Following proper techniques by learning and practising the correct ways of performing an activity or sport is essential. Appropriate techniques can help improve performance and prevent injuries.
• And last but not least, listen to your body. Pay attention to the signals that your body sends such as pain, fatigue, or displeasure. This is the best way to prevent overexertion and injury.

Sources:

• https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/healthy-aging-tips-older-adults-in-your-life
• https://personalexcellence.co/blog/healthy-living/
• https://www.healthline.com/health/womens-health-active-lifestyle
• https://www.who.int/philippines/news/feature-stories/detail/20-health-tips-for-2020
• https://www.themostlysimplelife.com/simple-living/8-tips-living-active-lifestyle/
• http://www.myhealth.gov.my/en/sport-injury/