Sports are a significant part of our culture. They have become so important that many people in America spend their free time watching, playing, and following sports teams.
However, most of us will never realize how lucky we are to play or watch others play since injuries can happen at any time on the field.
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In this blog post, we’ll discuss some common sports injuries you may come across when playing your favourite sport!
1. Sprains and Strains
Sprains and strains are prevalent sports injuries. They occur when a ligament or tendon is pulled past its normal range, causing damage to the surrounding tissues. These injuries can be both short-term or long-term depending on the severity and need time to heal properly before returning to play.
A sprained ankle, for instance, is one of the most common injuries in sports. It’s a ligament injury, i.e., injury to the tissue that connects one bone to another. It usually occurs when you twist your ankle.
On the other hand, a strain is an injury to a muscle or tendon, and it can happen when you overuse a muscle.
Sports accidents that result in a sprained ankle or strain are typically the result of a sudden movement or force.
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Some common signs and symptoms of sprains and strains include:
- Swelling
- Tenderness
- Bruising
- Muscle spasms
- Pain
Sprains and strains are widespread injuries, especially in contact sports like football and rugby. They can usually be treated with rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE) and may require physical rehabilitation therapy.
For males, injuries from soccer and baseball can have serious consequences. If the ball suddenly lands on their genitalia, it can result in a condition called Peyronies disease. This condition is an acquired, adult-onset curvature of the penis. It’s usually caused by a lack of blood flow to the area, which leads to scar tissue formation and plaque buildup.
Surgeries or other treatments like Gainswave for Peyronies are typically used to treat Peyronies disease. Be sure to consult a doctor if the injury does not improve within a few days.
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2. Achilles Tendonitis
Achilles tendonitis is an inflammation of the Achilles tendon, a band of tissue that connects your calf muscle to your heel bone. This injury is most common in runners and can be caused by overuse or sudden force.
Some common symptoms include:
- Pain behind the heel
- Tenderness
- Swelling
- Limited range of motion in the ankle or heel
Treatment may include icing, physical therapy, ultrasound therapy, pain relievers, anti-inflammatories, stretching exercises at home, or injections.
The injury can take weeks to months to properly heal, so it’s essential to listen to your body and take the necessary time off for healing.
3. Runner’s Knee (iliotibial band syndrome)
Runner’s knee is an injury that typically occurs in runners and cyclists. It happens when the tendon that runs along the outside of your hip bone becomes inflamed, causing pain on or around your outer thigh.
This can be caused by weak hips (gluteus medius muscles), overuse, increased intensity/duration too quickly, muscle imbalance, or several other reasons.
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Some common symptoms include:
- Pain on the exterior of your knee that can worsen with activity and then decrease after exercising for a while
- Tenderness over the bony area above your outer knee/thigh
- Swelling around this area
- Limited range of motion in the knee
Runner’s knee can be extremely painful, so it’s best to get checked out by a doctor if anything seems off.
Treatment may include taking time off from sports, icing the area often, physical therapy exercises to strengthen your hip muscles. Stretches can help loosen the IT band and decrease inflammation in the knee/thigh area.
Again, self-care is vital here, so if this injury persists, be sure to see a professional.
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4. Shin Splints
Shin splints are a common injury in runners, dancers, and other athletes who participate in sports that require a lot of running. They occur when the muscles and tend to be caused by overuse or incorrect training practices.
Some common symptoms include:
- Pain in the front or back of your shin
- Tenderness to the touch
- Swelling in the area
- Burning or aching sensation
Shin splints can usually be treated with rest, ice, and compression. Physical therapy may also be necessary for rehabilitation. It is vital to give your body enough time to heal to don’t aggravate the injury and make it worse.
This injury is often more severe than it appears and can take weeks or months to heal!
5. Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is a condition that results in pain and inflammation of the plantar fascia- a thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot. This type of injury is most common in runners, dancers, and other athletes who participate in sports that require a lot of running.
It can be caused by some things, including but not limited to overuse, tight calf muscles, running on hard surfaces, high arches in your feet,/over-pronation.
Some common symptoms include:
- Pain along the bottom or heel of your foot that is worse with weight-bearing activities like walking or standing
- Tenderness to the touch
- Swelling in the area
- Heel pain when you first wake up or after resting for a while
There is no one “cure” for plantar fasciitis, but a few effective treatments are available. These include icing, heel pads/insoles, stretching exercises for your feet and calves, physical therapy to strengthen the muscles in your foot.
If you have been diagnosed with plantar fasciitis or any other sports injury. In that case, you must take time off from activity to avoid further damage to the area.
