What is sports injury?
Sports injuries are defined as the injuries that occur while playing a sport. Sports require a high amount of physical activity and sportsmen make use of different parts of the body to play their sport. Overuse of certain parts of the body and lack of proper training leads to injury in the sportsmen. Sports injury may relate to the bones, muscles or other internal organs of the brain. Common types of bone injuries include sprain, fractures, strains, and bruises. The muscles, tendons, ligaments and soft tissues of the body may become over-stretched or tear off due to intense activity. This happens in sports such as running, cycling, swimming etc. Trauma to the brain is another injury that can happen during direct sports such as football, basketball, wrestling etc. Sports injuries though very painful, are not always serious and proper rest, medications, ice compressors and physical exercises can help alleviate the symptoms and provide relief to the patients. In severe cases, where these methods do not work, surgery might be required such as in an ACL tear. In some cases, sportsmen might need to get the permission of the doctor before they start to play again.
Types of Sports Injury
- ACL tear
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a crucial ligament in the knee and an ACL tear is very painful. Landing awkwardly or on the wrong foot may lead to an ACL tear. It needs to be surgically grafted as per the severity of the tear. - Runner’s Knee
A runner’s knee may occur when tendons, joint lining, and other soft tissues of the knee become inflamed. It is also known as patellofemoral pain syndrome and is caused because of overuse. Patients experience extreme pain and discomfort. Rest and non-inflammatory medications are used to treat the condition. - Shin splints
This type of injury is common in runners who might feel stabbing pain in the inside of their lower leg. When muscles and tendons around the tibia become inflamed, it may cause pain and discomfort. - Sprained ankle
A sprained ankle occurs when ligaments in the ankle are over-stretched and is very common. It may occur during playing a sport or while performing daily activities. Ice compression and medications provide relief. - Achilles Tendonitis
Tendons on the lower back of the leg become thick and inflamed causing pain and stiffness. There is a severe pain after physical activity. Proper rest and icepack help in relieving the pain. Foot exercise and special footwear are also helpful. - Tennis Elbow
It is an overuse injury and happens when tendons on the outside of elbow are inflamed due to small tears. Athletes playing racquet sports as well as people in a profession such as plumbing and painting are at risk of a tennis elbow. Treatments involve anti-inflammatory medications, rest, forearm braces and surgery in extreme cases. - Hip Bursitis
The hip region has two major bursae and inflammation in either of them may lead to pain and discomfort. This pain should not be confused with the pain caused by arthritis. It is an overuse injury which happens due to excessive running and cycling and similar activities. Rest and anti-inflammatory medications help in improving the condition.
Concussion
It is defined as a traumatic brain injury and occurs when the brain undergoes rapid acceleration inside the skull. Footballers and other direct sports athlete are at a high risk for a concussion as there are chances of the head directly hitting the ground. An examination by a neurosurgeon is required to determine the extent of an injury.
Recovery
Sports injuries are often not serious and surgical procedures are not required to treat them. Sportsmen can take precautions such as proper work out and training, healthy diet and sufficient rest to avoid much of the injuries. In order to recover from a sports injury, it is important that the patients follow the instructions given by the physician properly. Most of the sports injuries are treated by good rest, taking anti-inflammatory medications and by doing the exercise that the physician has prescribed. Following a strict physical exercise regimen is important to gain back movement and functionality in cases such as runner’s knee, Achilles Tendonitis, sprained ankle etc. using compression on the affected area may reduce swelling which may develop after the injury. Regular ice packs and compression may help. Apart from these Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) help in managing the pain. Another of the most important factor that needs to be kept in mind while recovering from a sports injury is that the patient should get sufficient rest and should not resume their sports immediately after the injury. This may cause further complications and damage to the injured part. They should consult their physicians before resuming their sports activities.
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FAQs
- When should you see a doctor?
Usually, sports-related injuries are not very severe and sportsmen may get relief from non-prescription medications. But if the pain is severe, there is difficulty in moving or redness on the injured part, then it is advisable to see the doctor. - How to avoid sports injury?
Several preventions can be taken to avoid a sports injury such as warming up the soft muscles with gentle exercise before a major sports event. Drinking lots of water and cooling down the body after the sports are also beneficial in avoiding the occurrence of an injury.
Surgery in Mumbai, Thane
Our medical facility in Mumbai, Thane is equipped to handle all sports-related injuries. Our surgeons are skilled in performing complex procedures and surgeries involving ligament tear like knee arthroscopy. Our surgeons are highly skilled and have vast knowledge and experience in the field of orthopedics. Our facility has all the modern technologies required to perform any complex procedure. The success rate of surgeries of sports injuries like ACL reconstruction is very good. Our highly trained medical staff takes the best care of the patients and ensures that they recover fast from their injuries with minimum discomfort.
