Sports Injuries

Thousands of people across this world participate in some kind of sports, exercise or physical activity on daily basis. To each one of us, sports give a feeling of togetherness in more than one way and almost anyone who exercises regularly develop sports injuries at some time or another. The type of injury varies according to the age and kind of exposure to the activity and therefore occurrence of some injuries happen more than others.

Definition: The term ‘sports injury’ is generally used for injuries that occur in the musculoskeletal system, which includes the bones, muscles and associated tissues like cartilage. Some common injuries resulting from sports activities include:

Sprains and cramps: Sprain occurs when there is a stretching or tearing of ligaments surrounding the joints. Cramp on the other hand is a sudden, intense and forceful pain caused by a muscle locked in ripple.

Blisters: A fluid-filled loop on the surface of the skin that usually takes place on the hands or the feet.

Knee Pain: This is very common in athletes and occurs due to overtraining syndrome. To treat the cause of the pain, it is important to have an evaluation and proper diagnosis. Common reasons for knee pain include ligament injuries, torn knee cartilage and osteoarthritis.

Fractures: A fracture is a serious injury that causes crack/split in the bone. It can occur from either a one-time quick injury or from recurring stress to the bone over a period of time. The symptoms of Broken Shoulder or Clavicle Fracture is found generally in cricketers, squash and tennis players as their play requires continuous blows to their shoulders.

Chronic Injuries: Chronic sport injuries happen over a period of time and are usually a result of performing repetitive activities. Stress fracture is one of the most common examples of chronic injury and can happen to any individual over the age of 10. Tennis elbow is another type which occurs due to recurring use of muscles in the arms.

Treatment:

Prompt treatment of sports injuries is essential to ensure that the athlete is able to return to normal play as soon as possible. Complete diagnoses of the problem area give doctors an insight on the severity. Some of the orthopaedic methods used to cure sports injuries are: medication, Braces and Supports, Casts, Rehabilitation and physical therapy. Acute injuries may require surgery if symptoms do not subside with traditional methods.

Fortunately, most sports injuries can be treated successfully and many who suffer injuries can return to a satisfying level of physical activity after medical attention and appropriate therapies.