Sports injuries are diverse concerning which body parts they affect and how they manifest in an individual. Thus, there is no particular definition. But, as the name suggests, it refers to the injuries that occur while playing a sport; although they are not limited to athletes or bodybuilders.
The most common type of sports injuries are the ones that affect the musculoskeletal system, which provides stability to the body and enables movement.
To get the best and most appropriate treatment, it would be best to visit a Sports Injury Specialist or an Orthopedic doctor.
Read more: 5 reasons for visiting an Orthopedic doctor
Commonly Affected Areas
Sports injuries can affect any part of your body. The most common sports injuries are:
Spine/Back Injuries
Spine or back injuries are very common amongst sports enthusiasts. This is because your back experiences a lot of stress during most outdoor activities, that over time manifests as lower or upper back pain.
At times a sudden jolt can also cause acute back injury.
Head Injuries
These include injuries to the face, skull, and/or brain. They are most common in contact sports like football, hockey, or volleyball. The most common head injury is a concussion, which can be of varying intensity.
These types of injuries can also affect the neck at times, causing neck pain, depending upon the shock received by the head.
Shoulder and Elbow Injuries
The shoulder and Elbow are both joints and so are more prone to getting injured during a sport or another outdoor activity.
Common shoulder injuries are rotator cuff tendinitis and rotator cuff tears and common elbow injuries are tennis elbow and little league elbow.
Ankle Injuries
Ankle sprain is one of the most common injuries suffered by athletic people as the ankle contains multiple joints, bones, ligaments, and tendons. These kinds of injuries can be quite painful and require proper rest to heal completely.
Achilles Tendinitis is the most common ankle injury after a sprained ankle.
Knee Injuries
The knee is mainly responsible for free movement during most outdoor sports and thus endures the most. Knee injuries can turn out to be quite dangerous for athletes as they often require surgery.
Some of the common knee injuries are dislocation and fractures along with cartilage tears and Runner’s Knee.
Read More: What are the common knee injuries and how to prevent them
Some other common sports injuries are:
- Sprains and Strains
- Bone fractures
- Dislocated joints
- Tendinitis
- Shin Splints
Prevention Techniques
Most of the mentioned sports injuries can be prevented by proper care of the body and playing carefully with appropriate techniques.
Preventive measures include:
- Use of correct techniques while participating in any sport.
- Use of proper equipment and safety gear.
- Increasing flexibility by regular stretching.
- Warming up before the game with light jogging or stretches.
- Taking appropriate time to rest or enough breaks throughout.
- Cooling down after a rigorous game session.
- Introducing a balanced diet according to your body’s needs.
- Listening to your body and not pushing too far.
- Staying hydrated, especially while playing outdoors.
- Mixing up your routine to include a variety of exercises.
- Resting when tired and playing safe.
Summing Up
Although sports are vital to lead an active and healthy lifestyle, it is equally important to play safe and prevent sports injuries as much as possible using relevant techniques and equipment.
The Orthoderma Clinic is one of the leading orthopedic clinics in Ludhiana; housing one of the best Sports Injury Doctors. We believe in customer satisfaction and ensure top-notch services.