Major Sports Injuries: Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation

Exercise is beneficial for health we are aware of this, but with no time to spare in daily routine; how can we play sports or do any form of physical activity? Incorporating games and other physical activities in life is a must-to-do thing. Sports prove to be beneficial in numerous ways. It keeps our physical forms fit, control body vitals, boost the flow of blood in the body, improves our moods, etc. But, like with any other activity, injure is a part of sports. 

You can take any game like cricket, rugby, football, hockey, etc.; injuries are inevitable. There are numerous causes of attaining injuries such as overuse of body, application of the force of sports medium such as bat or ball, etc. direct impact, etc. Sports injuries are severe; athletes and players alike try their level best to save themselves from such damages. Such injuries can cause players or athlete to disqualify from their team or tournament due to being unfit to perform.

Sports injuries, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation

There are numerous sports injuries which can harm a player or athlete. There are two kinds of sports injuries players acquire: chronic and acute. Every sports injury comes under any one of these two categories. 

So, what are acute and chronic injuries? The basic difference is:

An acute injury happens all of a sudden such as a sprain in the ankle due to gauche landing. Chronic are known as lasting or permanent damages due to repetitive overutilization of muscles, clusters or joints. Wrong procedure and structural anomaly also assist in the attainment of chronic injuries. There are medical camps and representatives available on the field to assist players if they face any injury during an event or after. With the increase in sports activities, a whole new group of doctors, physiotherapists, counsellors, and other such people, as well as the domain, came into existence which helps players and athletes in prevention, rehabilitation and treatments.

Major sports injuries

Few of the significant sports injuries are mentioned below:

1. Concussion

Among the most prevalent sports injuries is a concussion – an injury to the brain of a player. Blow to the head where the brain shook violently. Concussions are severe injuries and should not be taken lightly. Any player or athlete who suffers from a Concussion must consult a sports physician, and should not return to the field immediately. Among other injuries; diagnosing Concussion is challenging. Players refuse to admit they are feeling dizzy or any other such symptom merely to stay on the ground.

Treatment

For any injured, treatment depends on the severity; the same is the case with a Concussion. Without a proper medical checkup; treatment of Concussion is challenging. Not every Concussion requires surgery, but, if there is internal bleeding or swelling; surgery is the last resort.

• If you are getting headaches, doctors suggest nonprescription pain-killers such as ibuprofen (Advil) or Tylenol.
• Doctors advise patients to have bed rest, and not to indulge in any exhausting activities.
• Avoid driving for a minimum of twenty-four hours or more, depending on the severity of the Concussion. 

Prevention & Rehabilitation:

In order to prevent a Concussion, players must always wear a helmet while playing any sport that requires getting aggressive and physical. Without a helmet, you are open to every kind of head injured, and such injuries are dangerous in sports such as American football, ice hockey, etc.

To stay safe in the future, players are instructed to wear a helmet during practice and live games. A helmet prevents the majority of head injuries, including Concussion. Wearing a helmet or any headgear will give to safety.  

2. Sprains

Excessive stretching or rupturing the ligaments result in a sprain in any part of the body. Ligaments are fragments of tissue that join two bones to one another in a joint. There are various kinds of sprains, but the most common in sports is an Ankle Sprain. An injury in the ankle means sturdy tissues or ligaments that encase and join bones of the leg to the foot or twisted awkwardly. 

Every ligament has explicit mobility and limitations that permit it to continue joint stabilization. When ligaments enveloping the ankle are a force to exceed these boundaries, it elicits a sprain. Sprained ankles usually entail injuries to the ligaments on the exterior of the ankle.

Treatment

• For a sprained ankle, treatment is decided by the severity of the injury. The objective of sprain treatment is to ease pain and inflammation, boost therapeutic of the ligament, and repair function of the ankle.
• For brutal injuries, you will be referred to a musculoskeletal specialist, such as an orthopedic surgeon or a rehabilitation physician.

Prevention & Rehabilitation:

To prevent ankle sprain, players must warm themselves up before starting the rigorous training.

• There are unique exercises that fortify the muscles around your ankle, which will prevent sprained ankles.
• You can do numerous kinds of stretching exercises which will boost the ligaments in ankles and make them stringer for direct impacts.
• Make sure the footwear is according to the game’s standards.
• Never wear a shoe which is either too tight or too loose in feet. It will lead to sprain ankles because you will be conscious throughout the game that the shoe is either too fit or too loose.

3. Rotator cuff

There are four pieces of muscles which collaborate to outline the rotator cuff. The rotator cuff maintains your shoulder shift in all directions. A rip in one of these muscles deteriorates the rotator cuff. Rotator cuff injuries vary from placid to severe. They fall into one of three categories:

• Tendinitis: An injury triggered by extreme use of the rotator cuff. It causes the cuff to inflame.
• Bursitis: It is caused by the aggravation of the bursa — fluid-filled sacs connecting the rotator cuff tendons and the primary bone.
• Excessive use or acute injury: The tendons connecting muscles to bones can strain or tear, moderately or entirely.

Treatment 

It depends on the injury. Doctors could advise rest or surgery. Tendinitis can evolve to a rotator cuff tear, and the damage gets worse as the time went by. Epigenetic-pneumopedic treatments enhance a rotator cuff injury.

• Exercises to repair muscles.
• Use of anti-inflammatory drugs such as Advil and Naproxen.
• Injecting cortisone, a steroid that facilitates in reducing inflammation.
• Apply a hot or cold pack on the affected shoulder to ease swelling.
• Resting the affected arm and wearing a sling to support the arm motions.

Prevention & Rehabilitation

To steer clear of developing a rotator cuff tear from a present shoulder problem; it is urgent to prevent actions that possibly will make it worse. Avoid frequent upper arm poses that can cause shoulder pain. Exercise rotator-cuff muscle and shoulder-blade escalation daily; perform suitable posture applications, etc.

4. Knee injuries

An injury that works on knee joint movements – it could range from excessive stretching of a muscle to a tear in it in the knee. Knee constitute several significant structures in our body, any of which can be injured. The most prevalent knee injuries consist of fractures, sprain, dislocation and tears of ligaments. Knee injuries entail more than one composition in the knee. Pain and swelling are standard indicators of a knee injury.

Treatment

The sort of treatment a physician suggests depends on the severity of the injury, age, overall health, and activity level.

• The RICE method: rest, ice, tender compression and elevation – facilitate a speedy recovery. Doctors urge to avoid moving knee.
• For a fractured bone, a cast will hold the bones in place while they mend.
• Precise exercises will recover the function of the knee and toughen the leg muscles that maintain knee movements.
• Drugs like Aspirin and Ibuprofen diminish pain and swelling are advised to patients.

Prevention & Rehabilitation

• To avoid any knee injury; maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight will affect knees in the wrong way.
• Do regular exercise and focus on areas such as hip, legs, and core muscles. Also, wear proper knee gears while practicing for a game, etc.

5. Posterior Cruciate Ligament

A posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) is a ligament inside the knee. They are a tight group of tissues that connect bones. PCL injuries often harm other ligaments or cartilage in the knee. In some cases, the ligament ruptures a piece of primary bone.

Players obtain PCL injuries due to a blow to the knee while it’s bent such as falling hard on the knee while it’s bent.

Physicians categorize PCL injuries in these groups:

• Rank I: The PCL has a partial tear.
• Rank II or moderate: The ligament is moderately torn.
• Rank III or mild, serious condition: The ligament is entirely torn, and the knee is wobbly.
• Rank IV or severe: The PCL is broken alongside with other ligaments in the knee.

Treatment

PCL problems can either be acute (temporary) or chronic (permanent). For the preliminary treatment of a PCL injury, the method is identified as ‘PRICE’. It includes:

• Protection: Shielding the knee from further damages.
• Rest: Resting the knee on a soft place.
• Ice: Icing the knee for small periods.
• Compression: To limit swelling, utilize elastic compression bandages during the day.
• Elevation: Try to keep the injured body part elevated above the level of your heart. This will also help in reducing the swelling.

Prevention & Rehabilitation

You can recuperate from some posterior cruciate ligament injuries without any surgery. Many people go through physical therapy after a PCL injury. They start by:

• Using crutches.
• Wearing a knee brace.
• Definite training considered necessary for a sport.
• Let a therapist move your leg through its operation range

6. Shin Splints

The expression “shin splints” is used to explain whichever sort of leg pain related to exercise; the phrase means the illness by the side of the shin bone. This pain arises at the exterior part of the lower leg, including:

• Foot and ankle in the interior of shin
• The internal frame of the bone where it convenes with the calf muscles.

Shin splints are predominantly present. Risk factors for shin splints include:

• Excessive use of the lower leg.
• Running in footwear which is inappropriate.
• Extreme training on a rock-hard surface.
• Stretching in wrong angles and poses during warm-ups or work-outs.

Treatment:

Shin splints usually involve taking a break from particular physical activities such as running or jogging and giving your legs time to relax. The soreness will typically vanish entirely in a matter of few hours or with maximum rest and restricted physical activity. Physicians repeatedly recommend that you do the following at home:

• Keep your legs high.
• Take Advil or Aleve regularly.
• Use ice packs to lessen swelling.
• Put on elastic firmness bandages.
• Warming up before exercising is an excellent technique to make sure your legs aren’t aching.
• Use a foaming wave to rub down your shins.

Prevention & Rehabilitation

To avoid getting any shin splint, below mentioned things are essential to bear in mind:

• Avoid exercising on hard surfaces.
• Warming-up before exercising is vital.
• Wearing footwear that fits perfectly and offers comprehensive support.
• Utilizing shock-absorbing inlays, which you can find on any online retailer and purchase it by using voucher codes.
• Stretch appropriately.

7. Hip Flexor Strain

The hip flexors are muscles found in the upper-front elevation of the thigh. The core functions of hip flexor muscles are to elevate the knee in the direction of the trunk. Also, it aids in the movement of your leg towards and remote from the other leg. Hip flexors can be frail in those who sit too much at work and have a weak sitting stance. Sports injuries to this muscle cluster can be caused by dashing, running and activities with swift turns and rough starts.

Treatment:

A hip flexor strain can be ideally treated by icing for fifteen to twenty minutes when then sprain happens. After an initial three recuperation days, athletes can apply heat for fifteen minutes again, with resting and exercising moderate heel slides and hip flexor stretches.

• If the pain remains after two weeks of home therapy, consult a therapist for pain and swelling management. With physiotherapy, hip-strengthening exercises will help to recuperate muscle, mobility and flexibility.

Prevention & Rehabilitation

To avoid hip flexor strain, avoid sitting for extended periods in one place, try to sit in the upright pose, stretch properly, and walk briskly. It is better to stretch muscles little by little rather than performing stretches too quickly.

In a Nutshell

Injuries are a part of every physical activity – be it a sport or any other. Every year more than three million teens and children are injured due to sports activities. In comparison, few sports are far more dangerous than the rest such as American football, ice hockey, rugby, boxing, etc. Due to these sports, a significant number of players are admitted in the hospital every year. Sports is essential in our lives, but the sustenance of injuries is inevitable. With the information we have provided, you can understand an injury and know how to treat it. Play hard, but be safe!