Most Common Sports Injuries: Prevention and Treatment

Looking for more ways to take care of yourself and the athletes in your life?

Are you growing frustrated with having to miss out on the most important games due to injury?

Are you thinking about getting involved in a new sport, but want to better acquaint yourself with the potential risks before doing so?

If so, you need to keep reading.

In this post, you’ll learn about some of the most common sports injuries. We’ll also tell you how you can prevent and treat them, and help you to connect with the right physical therapy to ensure a safe healing process.

Shin Splints

Shin splints are certainly one of the most common sports injuries out there, and there’s a good chance you’ll have to deal with them at least once in your life.

Usually, they’re nothing more than a minor annoyance that comes after you’ve put too much stress on the body.

However, in some cases, shin splints might be your body’s way of reacting to a bone fracture. While in some cases, the body can heal these tiny cracks on its own, in other cases, you may need to see a professional.

Avoid running uphill and downhill too frequently, always make sure that you’re doing your exercises correctly, and even take a look at the kind of running shoes you’re wearing in order to avoid shin splints.

If you’re still dealing with extreme pain, visible swelling, and even a feeling of heat around the shin, it’s time to see a doctor.

In extreme cases, you may require a minor surgery called a fasciotomy, which cuts the tissue around your muscles to help you heal.

Pulled/Strained Muscles

While pulled/strained muscles are one of the most common sports injuries, luckily, they’re not usually among the most severe.

They are usually a result of an overuse of the muscle — think working out well past the point of exhaustion, doing an exercise incorrectly, or even running/playing with an injury.

These strains can happen pretty much anywhere in the body. Usually, you’ll experience them in your lower back, your hamstring, or your neck.

Trust us when we tell you that when you’ve pulled a muscle, you’ll know it. You may feel a sudden burst of pain at the moment of impact, lasting soreness and stiffness, and even bruising and swelling.

To prevent these strains, always properly warm up before your game. Also, hit the gym to make sure that you’re staying in shape between games, and that you’re doing plenty of strength training in the process.

When dealing with a strain, elevate the injured muscle slightly and apply ice to manage the swelling. You may also need to apply a compression wrap and take an anti-inflammatory medication.

However, you should see a specialist if you’re still dealing with numbness, severe pain, and immobility after a week. Your doctor will take X-rays to properly diagnose and treat the injury. In some instances, you may need surgery in order to heal.

Concussions

It’s no secret that the concussions caused by contact sports like football and even soccer can have deadly, lasting consequences.

Concussions can lead to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (“CTE” for short.) Over time, this can damage your brain cells, its blood vessels, and can even cause dementia. The challenge with concussions is that most of the more severe symptoms take years to show up.

So, when it comes to concussions, proper diagnosis, prevention and immediate, expert treatment are absolutely essential.

If you’re vomiting, having blurred vision, have trouble thinking straight, feel dizzy, or even notice a change in mood, head to a specialist immediately. Even if you don’t have these symptoms, you should see a specialist anyway, as concussions can be difficult to diagnose.

Concussions can’t always be avoided, but the best thing to do is to educate yourself about the potential lasting effects — both physical and mental — of the sports you’re playing.

Also, be sure that you wear the best protective gear.

If you’re diagnosed with a concussion, you can expect to rest up for a while. You’ll likely be out of school/work, and you should stay in bed as much as possible. You may need to ice the area a few times each day, and your doctor may give you medication to manage the pain.

Honest and frequent communication with your doctor is the key to a safe and steady recovery from a concussion, one of the most common sports injuries.

A Shoulder Injury

The final item on our list of the most common sports injuries?

SLAP tears (to the cartilage around your shoulder socket) shoulder dislocations, pulled muscles, and tears or injury to the rotator cuff.

Not only are shoulder injuries painful, but they can prevent you from playing sports for quite some time while they heal. You may hear strange clicking sounds, experience a loss of range of motion, and just feel extreme pain in the area surrounding the shoulder.

In general, shoulder injuries happen because of an overuse of the muscle. So, don’t push yourself to add those extra twenty pounds of weight on at the gym.

If you want to avoid a shoulder injury, it’s incredibly important that you always take the time to stretch, warm up, and cool down both before and after a game.

Additionally, if you’ll be playing contact sports, ensure that you’re wearing the proper protective equipment and gear. And when you’re off the field or the court, pay attention to your posture. This will help you to avoid putting undue stress on your shoulder and neck, meaning you’ll be at less of a risk for injury.

When treating a shoulder injury, it’s best to seek professional treatment. This will ensure a proper diagnosis and, if needed, a detailed plan for rehabilitation.

Who Can Help You Heal After These Most Common Sports Injuries?

Now that you know more about the most common sports injuries, you need to find a treatment plan you can trust.

At Premier Physical Therapy, we offer personalized, one-on-one treatment for a variety of conditions and injuries. If you’re dealing with Neuropathy, a work injury, a tear or sprain, or are in need of physical therapy, we’re here to help you heal.

Get in touch with us today to request an appointment and to get on the road to recovery.