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Athletes and other sportsmen often meet with an injury while playing their sport. Usually, an excessive force beyond a body part's capacity causes a sports injury. It can affect muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments, and other tissues. It is interesting to find that athletes and injuries are closely linked, with sports injuries accounting for the majority of muscle-related injuries.
Young adults in India seem to experience sports injuries far more often than their peers in other countries, with studies showing rates between 46.5% and 73.4%.1 Most common sports injuries include sprains, strains, and fractures. Many of these injuries can be treated at home, but it is important to consult a doctor for proper guidance and a treatment plan.
As severe sports injuries can halt a sportsman’s career, preventing them is a growing focus area in sports medicine. The use of quality equipment in sports in recent years has greatly reduced the occurrence of sports injuries. This blog covers the different types of sports injuries and prevention, and also looks into treatment strategies and sports medicine.
Types of Sports Injury
Sports injuries are grouped into two main types: acute and chronic. Acute injuries occur suddenly, like from a fall, a blow, or twisting a joint. Chronic injuries, on the other hand, develop gradually over time due to repetitive strain on a specific part of the body. Examples of acute injuries include sprains and dislocations, while common chronic injuries are conditions like tennis elbow and stress fractures.
Let’s explore various body injuries that come under sports injuries.
Knee Injuries
Knee injuries are common in many sports. The most frequent types include sprains, tears of soft tissues like ligaments and the meniscus, as well as fractures and dislocations. Many of these injuries affect multiple structures within the knee.
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Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injuries
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Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Injuries
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Collateral Ligament Injuries
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Meniscus Tears
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Tendon Tears
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Fractures
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Dislocation
Shoulder Injuries
The shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint that allows a wide range of motion. It is heavily used in sports like tennis, swimming, cricket, baseball, and others, which makes shoulder injuries common in these activities. Here are some of the most common shoulder injuries seen in sports:
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Shoulder sprain
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Bicep sprain
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AC (Acromioclavicular) shoulder joint injury
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Dislocated shoulder
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Separated shoulder
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Ligament tears
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Cartilage tears
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SLAP (superior labrum anterior and posterior) tears
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Articular cartilage tears
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Rotator cuff injuries
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Shoulder impingement
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Frozen shoulder (stiffness)
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Clavicle fracture
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Shoulder instability
Hip Injuries/ Conditions
Participating in sports like running, skiing, football, cycling, basketball, and tennis can sometimes cause hip injuries. These injuries may present as sharp pain in the groin, thigh, or leg, along with stiffness or a popping sensation, leading to decreased mobility.
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Bursitis and Tendonitis
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Hip Labral Tear
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Hip Impingement
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Stress Fracture
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Avascular Necrosis
Ankle Injuries
Most ankle injuries occur during sports or while walking on uneven surfaces that cause the foot and ankle to twist into an awkward position. They are especially common in sports like basketball, football, and soccer, which involve frequent running, jumping, and sudden changes in direction.
Common sports-related ankle injuries are:
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Lateral ankle sprains
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Ankle instability
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Achilles’ tendon ruptures
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Ankle tendinitis.
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Ankle fractures
How to Prevent Sports Injury?
Most sports injuries result from poor training techniques, using the wrong equipment, or inadequate stretching and warm-up routines. However, following proper practices can help reduce the risk of injury for athletes.
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Warming Up and Cooling Down: One of the most common causes of sports injuries is starting intense physical activity without properly warming up. Warming up should include light exercises and dynamic stretches to gradually raise your heart rate and prepare your muscles and joints for activity. Gentle cardio activities with a gradual increase in intensity are considered the safest approach.
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Using Proper Technique: Learning and practising the correct form for any sport or activity is crucial to prevent injuries. Each sport requires specific postures and movements, and using the right technique can significantly lower the risk of getting hurt.
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This is especially important in weight training, where poor form is a common cause of injury. Strengthening your core muscles also plays a key role in injury prevention, as it helps with balance and stability in nearly all physical activities.
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Abdominal Crunches: Lie on your back with your feet on a wall, knees and hips at a 90-degree angle. Raise your head and shoulders off the ground and hold for a few seconds.
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Planks: Hold a push-up position with your weight on your forearms and toes, keeping your body straight and tight.
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Wearing Protective Equipment: Many sports now require basic protective gear, such as helmets, but additional precautions are just as important. Always wear the appropriate safety equipment for your sport to reduce the risk of serious injury.
Common protective gear includes helmets, knee and elbow pads, spine protectors, protective eyewear, mouthguards, wrestling ear guards, proper footwear and clothing.
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Using Proper and Well-Fitting Equipment: Wearing gear that fits well and is designed for your specific sport is key to avoiding preventable injuries. Borrowing ill-fitting equipment from someone else or using gear that is not suited to your size or skill level, like lifting too much weight or riding a bike that is too large, can lead to accidents.
For youth sports, coaches should work with parents to ensure that children are using the correct equipment in the right way.
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Taking Time to Rest: Playing a sport continuously without enough rest can lead to muscle fatigue and overuse injuries. It is important to give your body time to recover between practices or games to reduce strain and avoid long-term damage.
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Ensuring Proper Recovery from Previous Injuries: Before returning to play after an injury, always get medical clearance to ensure the injury has healed completely. Jumping back into activity too soon can cause re-injury or make the condition worse.
Conclusion
An injured athlete may face setbacks that can bring their promising career to a sudden stop. That’s why athlete injury prevention has become an increasingly important area of focus. Experts in sports medicine have developed a variety of effective injury prevention strategies for athletes, aimed at minimising setbacks and supporting long-term performance. At Manipal Hospitals in Mukundapur, our team of expert orthopaedic surgeons is dedicated to helping you stay injury-free.
FAQ's
The RICE method is a widely used first-aid technique for treating sports injuries, especially soft tissue injuries like sprains, strains, and bruises. Here is what RICE stands for:
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Rest the injured area to prevent further damage.
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Ice the area as soon as possible to reduce swelling and pain.
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Compression by wrapping the area with an elastic bandage to control swelling.
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Elevation by keeping the injured part raised to help minimise swelling.
Sprains and strains are both soft tissue injuries common in sports, often with similar symptoms, which can make them hard to tell apart.
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A sprain happens when a ligament (which connects bones) is stretched or torn, commonly in the ankle, knee, or wrist.
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A strain, or pulled muscle, affects muscles or tendons and often occurs in the thigh or groin.
It can be hard to judge the severity of a sports injury on your own. While minor injuries may heal with rest, certain symptoms suggest a more serious issue that needs medical attention.
Watch for signs like:
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A popping sound or sensation
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Sharp or persistent pain
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Swelling, bruising, or visible deformity
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Inability to move or put weight on the area
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Numbness or unusual tenderness
If you notice any of these, see a doctor promptly for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Surgery is typically needed for severe injuries, such as when connective tissues are torn or if there is a joint dislocation causing deformity and disability. However, most sports injuries can be treated without the need for surgery.
For minor injuries, a general physician or physiotherapist can help. For more serious injuries, an orthopaedic surgeon, specialising in bone and joint conditions, should be consulted. A physiotherapist will also guide you through rehabilitation and exercise programs.
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