Common Sports Injuries Treatment and Prevention Tips

Sports are a wonderful way to feel lively, active, and energetic. not only this, they act as great stress busters for a person. Prevent common sports injuries by playing well and playing safe. learn more about different sports injuries and ways to treat and prevent them.

What is a Sport?

One feels such a rush of adrenalin after playing a sport. It involves physical exertion, skill, and a feeling of competitiveness. There are so many life skills one learns by playing a sport. Performing under a set of customs and rules not only instills discipline but also evokes liveliness in a person’s life.

Like everything in life, sports too come with baggage. The baggage of injuries that comes along. Sometimes one can get hurt while indulging in physical activities. Sports-related injuries range from sprains and bruises to broken bones and concussions.

There are a number of Outdoor sports that can lead to injuries and some of them are,

• Basketball
• Football
• Soccer
• Cricket
• Tennis
• Volleyball

Factors of Sport Injuries

Exercise works wonders for the body. One can certainly prevent sports injuries by taking proper precautions. One of the best ways to keep yourself protected while playing includes using protective equipment such as helmets, padding, mouth guards, etc. There are chances that one still remains prone to sports injuries.

Some of the common factors or reasons that lead to sports injuries are:-

• Prior weakness in body which prevents a person to actively respond to keep him/her secure.
• Poor training practices
• Improper sportswear
• Improper sports gear
• Lack of warm-up
• Lack of stretching exercises before playing
• Improper arrangement of muscle and bone such as having flat feet or being bow legged
• Lack of sufficient rest can leave the body fatigued
• Performing with poor technique or bad form

Types of Common Sports Injuries

Everyone is likely to experience a sports injury in life. Whether it is a person who is extremely fit or someone who exercises once a week, can have an injury at some point. It can be terribly frustrating and disrupts the daily routine of a person.
Broadly there are two kinds of sports injuries:-

Acute – It occurs in an instant probably because of a sudden landing like a sprained ankle.

Chronic – It occurs due to overuse of muscles or joints and sometimes even structural abnormalities or poor technique. Sprains and strains

Other common sports injuries include:-

• Muscle injuries
• Joint injuries such as the ones involving ankle, knee, or shoulder. One feels pain, stiffness, or swelling.
• Dislocations
• Fractures
• Bruises
• Concussion such as a brain injury resulting in unconsciousness. One can experience a headache or feels dizzy or can suffer from a short-term memory loss.
• Abrasions as well as cuts especially on the hands and knees.
• Dental injury resulting in the cracking of the jaw or breaking of the teeth.
• Strain in the groin
• Strain in the hamstring. A person experiences swelling, pain, and bruising.
• Injuries in the nose due to a direct blow

It is immensely important to get oneself after an injury because sometimes the damage is severe thank one thinks. For example, an ankle sprain may in reality be a fracture that can only be confirmed after a practitioner examines a person.

Treatment 

Amandeep Hospital offers comprehensive treatments for various sports injuries under the guidance of some of the top-notch doctors in the field. We are committed to serve you in the best possible manner by providing you with the most appropriate and effective treatment for any kind of sports injury.

Your treatment depends on the severity of the injury. Give yourself the initial treatment to reduce the swelling and pain but do not forget to consult your medical practitioner if the inflammation or the pain doesn’t subside.

In case the injury is minor, it can be treated at home initially, using the following method:-

• Use a support for the injured area to protect it such as a walking stick or crutches while walking. You can even use a sling to support your injured shoulder.
• Try to rest as much as you can and reduce physical activities.
• Use an ice pack wrapped in a towel on the affected area. Applying it directly can cause ice rash on the skin.
• You can even make use of an elastic compression bandage so that the swelling reduces. In addition, elevate the injured part at a level higher than your heart.

In order to reduce the pain, paracetamol works wonders. Medicines like Ibuprofen or anti-inflammatory tablets can be used to ease one out of pain or swelling.

Physiotherapy which involves methods like massage and exercises helps in strengthening the injured part and the surrounding muscles. It also improves the movement of the affected area.

Surgeries may be recommended for ligament reconstruction when you experience a strain or a sprain, sometimes such as in case of an athlete who has sprained the ACL of his knee.

Surgery may also be required when there is a rupture or severe tearing of the muscle or tendon. Such an injury can include the quadriceps, the hamstring muscle, Achilles’ tendon or biceps muscle.

Don’t forget to make an appointment with the doctor if the injury feels severe. One must seek emergency in case on the injured joint, there is:-

• Severe pain along with swelling
• Lumps or deformities
• Weakness or extreme pain while putting weight on the joint
• Instability of the joint
• Crunching or cracking sounds while using the joint

Preventive Measures 

As mentioned before, sports come with injuries but with proper precautions one can continue with the sport in full spirit and fervour. There are a number of precautions one can take to prevent sports injuries like running injuries, cricket injuries, football injuries, or tennis injuries.

• It is important to take time off from a sport, may be on weekends or holidays to give time to the body to recover.
• Wearing proper sports gear and equipment such as knee pads and helmets to prevent cricket injuries.
• Make muscle-strengthening exercises a part of your daily routine such as conditioning exercises while practicing.
• To improve the flexibility of your body, do stretching exercises before and after playing.
• It is really important to use proper techniques while playing or else one becomes prone to injuries.
• Keep taking rest in between your practice sessions.
• Follow proper rules of the sport such as in football which is a contact sport. If you want to prevent football injuries, play within the boundary of the rules. Call for help in case of an emergency or terrible pain in the middle of the game.
• Drink a good amount of fluids to keep yourself hydrated during a game.

Do not leave your common sports injuries untreated or it may become dangerous, leaving you on bed without any physical activity. It is extremely significant to seek medical help when your body demands it. So, listen to your body and take care of it.