An Overview of Sports Injuries: Risk Factors, Symptoms & Types

More and more people are getting active to reap the health benefits offered by regular exercise and physical activity. However, sports injuries may occur whenever you overdo things and fail to warm up or train properly. Most sports injuries may be treated and individuals suffering from sports injuries may return to satisfactory fitness and physical activity levels after proper rest and treatment. However, several of these sports injuries may be prevented, provided you focus on taking the right measures and proper precautions. 

According to Forbes, expenses involved with professional player injuries are incredibly high. The estimated cost of injuries of a player on average in the top four ‘professional soccer leagues’ was 12.4 million USD per team in 2015. As per estimates, soccer teams seem to lose every year 10 percent to 30 percent of player payroll thanks to injuries. Injuries may happen while playing sports as a professional or just for fun. However, you can avoid sports injuries by using the right techniques and proper equipment.

The Risk Factors

• Not bothering to use the right exercise techniques.
• Changing or modifying physical activity intensity too quickly and not gradually.
• Overtraining or training for too long or training too frequently.
• Jumping or running on hard surfaces.
• Not remembering to wear the right equipment.
• Wearing a pair of shoes that do not provide adequate support.
• Indulging in same sports all year round.
• Experienced a prior injury.
• Poor flexibility or already existing knee issues or other physical issues.
• On medications like fluoroquinolones, a type of antibiotics associated with tendon rupture and tendinitis.
• Poor training practices
• Lack of conditioning
• Not sufficient stretching or warm-up

Even though practically any part of the human body can be injured while doing exercises or participating in sports, the term ‘sports injuries’ is generally reserved for injuries associated with the musculoskeletal system that includes the bones, muscles, and associated tissues such as cartilage. Spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries are relatively rare while exercising or playing sports. It is best to seek pain relief by seeking alternative treatments to surgical interventions. Schedule an appointment at a reputed San Antonio Pain control clinic for effective regenerative medicine. Follow the map here.

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Types of Sports Injuries

Sports injuries can be divided into two broad categories: 

• Chronic injuries are generally associated with overuse, and gradually the issue develops over time.
• Acute injuries happen all of a sudden. In many cases, wear and tear due to constant overuse can set the ground for acute injuries.

Sports Injury Symptoms

Symptoms associated with an acute injury may include:

• Bruising and extreme swelling
• Sudden and severe pain
• Unable to place your body weight on your injured knee, leg, foot, or ankle
• Unable to move a specific joint properly
• A joint or bone visibly displaced
• Extreme weakness in your affected limb
• A dull ache or swelling when you rest
• Pain while exercising or playing

Some Common Sports Injuries

Musculoskeletal System Injuries: These are common in athletes, and some of the common types of injuries may include dislocations, fractures, strains, sprains, bursitis, or tendinitis.

ACL Injury: ACL or the anterior cruciate ligament is the ligament providing the knee’s stabilization. A sudden alteration in movement, implying slowing down or speeding up too quickly may strain your ligament. It may cause a lack of stability and swelling.

Shoulder Injuries: Among many other issues rotator cuff injury is the most common shoulder-related injury. It is common among people with jobs that necessitate overhead movements like painters, swimmers, or tennis players who require reaching upward repeatedly. 

Elbow Injuries: The tennis elbow is the most common elbow injury triggered by sports. Plumbers, painters, carpenters, and other people not involved in sports may experience this condition since they use their forearms repeatedly.

Knee Injuries: Jumper’s knee, fractures, and dislocation are some of the common knee issues triggered by exercise and sports.

Conclusion

It is best to stop exercising or playing when you are hurt or injured. Remember that if you continue to exercise and play it can cause a lot more harm. Remember that your treatment often starts with proper rest, ice, compression, & elevation. Seek alternative treatments for proper pain management.