The Seven Most Common Sports Injuries
A healthy, active lifestyle must include participation in one or more sports as it is beneficial for the heart, the respiratory system, the development and maintenance of physical strength, etc.
People make sudden touch with the ground and each other, move improperly, trip and fall, etc. and as a result, sports injuries are frequently sustained. However, while the possibility of injury shouldn’t stop you from participating in sports, you can take precautions against them or at the very least lower your risk of damage by being aware of some of the most frequent sports ailments.
Let’s examine seven frequent potential injuries associated with sports and the safeguards you might take
1.Strains
Because we engage so many muscles and tendons when we play or exercise, strains are by far the most frequent of all sports-related ailments. All of these moving parts are prone to stretching further than they need to or moving improperly, which can cause pain, damage, and tearing.
Pulling the groin muscles, straining the quads, and pulling the hamstrings are common muscular injuries. The majority of sprains are minor and naturally disappear with rest.
Before engaging in any strenuous exercise, it is best to warm up and stretch to lower the risk of strained muscles and tendons.
2. Sprains
Strains are to muscles what sprains are to ligaments. Bones are joined together by tissues called ligaments. These ligaments have the potential to pull or tear if they turn the incorrect way.
Athletes may experience ankle sprains the most frequently, followed closely by knee, wrist, elbow, and other sprains. Sprains can be uncomfortable, heal more slowly than strains, and occasionally call for immobilization to prevent further damage. Along with practicing proper technique in your chosen sport, pre-workout stretches and warmups can help prevent sprains.
If you’ve previously sprained a knee or ankle, for instance, it would be wise to support that joint because sprains frequently leave the ligament weak and vulnerable to subsequent sprains.
3. Knee Injuries
We’ve given the knee its own category for potential injuries because it’s a very intricate joint that takes a lot of force and wear throughout most sporting activities.
Along with cartilage rips, fractures, and dislocations, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are fairly typical injuries. Knee injuries are frequently treated with surgery since they can be extremely painful and debilitating.
Once more, correct cushioning and bracing, coupled with warm-ups, stretches, and excellent posture, can lower the risk of knee injury (for instance, while playing contact sports).
4. Fractures
Impact and contact sports frequently result in bone fractures (most commonly in the arms, legs, and feet), all of which can be painful, require weeks of immobility to heal, and are occasionally corrected surgically.
Most demanding and/or contact sports carry an inherent risk of fractures, but you can lower it by using the right protection, warming up, exercising to keep your muscles strong and flexible, using proper technique, etc.
Additionally, avoid “playing through the pain,” as this may indicate a strain or sprain that, if left untreated, might weaken the bone and render it susceptible to fracture.
5. Tennis Elbow
Tennis elbow can develop even if you don’t play the sport (golf is also a common culprit).
Tennis elbow is one of many “injuries of repetition,” which are strained elbow ligaments brought on by excessive and repetitive use.
Pace yourself if you want to avoid it. Take breaks, engage in other things, and stretch and warm up before playing every time.
6. Back injuries/Back pain
With practically every sport, your back and spinal column experience some level of stress. This stress may build up over time into inflammation around the vertebrae and back muscles, occasionally inflicting disc damage and frequently resulting in upper or lower back discomfort.
Occasionally, a sudden, jarring hit can also seriously hurt the back. Depending on the problem, back treatments might range considerably from rest to physical therapy to surgery.
The best method to lower your chance of back discomfort and injury is to maintain strong, flexible back muscles with frequent low-impact exercise, warm-ups, and even a healthy diet.
7. Concussion
A concussion, which is most frequent in contact sports like football, happens when the brain suddenly moves inside the skull after being struck, sometimes injuring the tissues that hold it there.
Concussions can range in severity from moderate to severe, and their symptoms might include anything from headaches and vertigo to drowsiness and brief unconsciousness. Always get checked out by a spine-and-brain expert after a head injury since sometimes, afterward, more severe symptoms may appear. If you are experiencing concussion symptoms, stop playing sports immediately.
With rest, concussions typically recover naturally within a week to several weeks. Wearing the proper protective headgear while playing contact sports like football or hockey reduces the risk of concussion the most.
Conclusion
Overuse, direct collision, or the application of force larger than the body component can physically withstand are the main causes of sports injuries. Bruises, sprains, strains, joint injuries, and nosebleeds are examples of common injuries. It’s crucial to visit a doctor because failing to address an injury can result in far worse consequences.
Rayyan is a 2nd year undergrad pursuing MBBS from HBTMC, Mumbai. He is an avid writer and almost always finds himself on the other side of the screen typing away or tweeting. Deeply passionate about football, academia, medicine and teaching, not necessarily in the same order.
