Sports Injuries:  Learn about sports injuries and how to treat them

Dr.Minakshi Fullara , 5 mins read

Sports Injuries:  Learn about sports injuries and how to treat them 

Sports Injury - Overuse, direct impact, or the application of force greater than the body part's structural capacity are the most common causes of sports injuries. Injury to any part of the body can occur while playing or exercising, but the term "sports injuries" refer to injuries to the musculoskeletal system. These injuries are most commonly caused by trauma and overuse of muscles or joints. You are more likely to sustain a sports injury if you are not physically active on a regular basis or if you do not warm up before exercising. If you enjoy sports or exercise, it is important for you to know about sports injuries. Obtain detailed information about injuries sustained while exercising or participating in sports. 
 

What are some of the most common sports injuries? 

Different sports injuries have distinct symptoms and complications. The following are the most common sports injuries: 
 
1. Sprain - Sprains occur when ligaments are strained while playing or exercising. Ligaments are the group of connective tissue that connects bones. 
2. Strain - Overstretching or a muscle injury can cause a strain. Tendons are fibrous tissue strands that connect bone to muscle. A strain is commonly confused with a sprain, but there is a distinction between the two. 
3. Knee Injury - A sports injury is one that causes problems with the movement of the knee joint. This injury can range from overstretching to tearing of the knee's muscles , Ligaments and tissues. 
4. Muscle Swelling - It is also normal to experience swelling as a result of an injury. Swollen muscles can be painful, weak, and can easily get damaged. 
5. Achilles tendon rupture - The Achilles tendon is a thin but powerful tendon located at the back of our ankle. It is possible that it will break during the game. A break can cause you to experience severe pain and difficulty walking. 
6. Fracture – Fractures caused by a breaking of bone during sports are also fairly common. 
7. Dislocation of Bone and Joint - A dislocation is caused by trauma that causes a joint to move out of place. This injury is caused by contact sports such as football and hockey, as well as sports where falls are common. Dislocations can also happen during everyday activities if the muscles and tendons that surround the joint are weak. 
8. Rotator Cuff Injury - Four muscles make up the rotator cuff. The rotator cuff facilitates shoulder rotation in all directions. Any of these muscles can be injured and cause the rotator cuff to weaken 
 
Types of Sports Injury: 
Sports injuries are classified into two types: acute and chronic. 
 

• Acute Sports Injuries: Acute injuries are frequently caused by activities such as abruptly changing direction while running, colliding with another player, or falling during play. This type of injury occurs rapidly and can be severe. Acute Injuries include dislocated shoulder, fracture, knee injuries, sprain, strain, and rotator cuff injury. 
• Chronic Sports Injuries - Chronic injuries are caused by long periods of repetitive motion in sports such as long-distance running, cycling, and swimming. Overuse injuries are caused by wear and tear over time and can be exacerbated by poor technique. Chronic sports injuries include Stress fractures, Achilles Tendon Injuries, Tennis Elbow and Golfer’s Elbow  

 
Prevention of sports Injuries: 

Exercising or participating in sports is essential for staying healthy and fit. It is not correct to refrain from participating in sports or exercising in order to avoid sports injury. However, you can avoid injury during sports by taking care of a few things, such as:

• Exercise with caution - While exercising, make a fitness plan. Including cardiovascular exercise, strength training, and flexibility makes a good fitness plan. All of this will help to lower your risk of injury. Alternate between exercises for different muscle groups every other day. 
• Keep Yourself hydrated - Heat exhaustion is a real concern for athletes, especially on hot, humid days. You should drink plenty of water before, during, and after play, and keep an eye out for any signs of heat illness, such as fatigue, nausea, vomiting, confusion, or fainting. 
• Don’t forget to stretch - Stretching exercises can help improve muscle contraction and ability to perform. As a result, the risk of injury is reduced. Begin the stretch slowly until the muscle reaches a point of stretching. Stretching should not be excruciatingly painful. 
• Use appropriate technique and Safety equipment - Wear the proper protective gear, such as mouth guards, helmets, and pads. While playing or exercising, all of your equipment or items in use, such as shoes, should be appropriate. Foot injury can occur if your shoes are not properly fitted. It is also critical to be aware of proper technique when participating in any sport or exercising. Avoid exercising or playing whenever you are tired or in pain. If you sustain a sports injury, you should seek medical attention and rest before returning to play or exercise.

What are the treatment options for Sports Injury? 

Treatment for a sports injury is determined by the severity of the injury and the affected body part. If your injury does not require medical treatment, such as a mild sprain or strain, you can use PRICE therapy to treat it at home. 

What is PRICE? 

• P- Protection - Protect the affected area from further injury by using a support 
• R- Rest – Take rest or reduce your daily physical activity and avoid exercising. If you can't put weight on your ankle or knee, crutches or a walking stick may be useful. 
• I- Ice - Ice is useful for reducing inflammation and irritation, as well as for relieving pain. Many athletes find that icing an acute injury relieves their pain without the use of painkillers. Wrap the ice pack in a towel so that it does not touch your skin directly 
• C- Compress - Applying pressure to the injured area is referred to as compressing. However, this pressure should not be excessive. So, to reduce swelling, use elastic compression bandages. 
• E- Elevate- Swelling, burning, and pain may be reduced by elevating the injured area above the heart level.

Although PRICE therapy can be beneficial for any sports injury, some injuries may necessitate additional treatment mentioned below if this method does not provide relief: 

• Physiotherapy - Massage, manipulation, and special exercises are used in physiotherapy to increase the range of motion and restore normal function to the injured area. For example, a person recovering from a long-term injury may benefit from a running and swimming programme to strengthen the muscles of the affected body part.
• Medication - Paracetamol and other pain relievers can be used to help with the discomfort.  Ibuprofen and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or cream can also be used to relieve pain and reduce swelling but these medicines should be taken on the advice of doctors only.
• Injection - If you have severe or persistent inflammation, a corticosteroid injection may be recommended.  It can help relieve pain caused by your injury, though for some people the relief is minimal or only lasts a short time.
• Immobilisation - Staying still and reducing activity helps to prevent further damage. It also alleviates pain, inflammation, and muscle spasms. A sling can be used to keep an arm or shoulder immobilised until medical attention is sought. To protect injured bones and soft tissue, a bandage made of plastic or fibreglass can be used.  Following a knee injury or surgery, a foam rubber leg immobiliser may be used to keep the knee in a fixed position and prevent it from bending.
• Rehabilitation - Rehabilitation is an essential component of treating a sports injury. The goal of  rehabilitation program is to gradually return the injured body to normal function by introducing movement and exercise. After the initial recovery from most sports injuries, it is beneficial to move the injured area as quickly as possible to aid in the recovery process. Light exercise will aid to improve the range of the motion of the injured area. Stretching and strength-based exercises can be done as the activity becomes easier and the pain fades. You should avoid doing too much too soon during the rehabilitation process. Whatever you do, begin by slowly repeating a few simple exercises over and over before gradually increasing the amount of time you spend doing them. Avoid painful activities and do not begin playing back until the pain has subsided and the injured area has regained full strength and flexibility. Highly skilled Physiotherapists or sports injury specialists at Aakash Healthcare can help design an appropriate rehabilitation program for you and advise you on what exercises you should do and how often you should repeat them.
• Surgery - The majority of sports injuries do not require surgery, but very serious injuries, such as Ligament rupture around knee, ankle, badly broken bones, rotator cuff muscle tear over shoulder etc. may require it. In some cases, a non-surgical technique known as closed reduction can be used to realign broken bones. 

During surgery, a broken bone may require the use of wires, plates, screws, or rods to be repaired, a procedure known as open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF).  Reconstructive surgery may be required if a knee, ankle, shoulder ligament or muscle is torn. 
 
Book an appointment today and get an honest and proper opinion with one of the best sports injury doctor in Delhi.