The Most Common Injuries in Sports and Their Prevention

Exercising or playing sports adds a great benefit to an individual's health. But, sometimes dismay occurs in forms of several common sports injuries. It may lead to serious health risks. Sports injuries are either chronic that develop over time or acute that happen suddenly. Here we are going to discuss the most common sports injuries, respective precautions and cures. Let's get started!

1) Muscle Sprains & Strains 

The most common sports injury amongst them all is the sheer stretch or tear in the ligaments of nearby joints of knees, ankles, wrists and shoulders. Strains can directly hurt the muscle through tearing, overextending and furious motions. Symptoms include vigorous pain, inflammation, laxity, bruises, loss of strength. 

• Adductor strain - Also called groin strain that occurs due to sudden jumps and lateral movements.
• Hip flexor strain - Occurs in the upper-front side of the thighs, inhibiting leg movements
• Hamstring strain - Occurs in the back of the thigh due to poor stretching, causing bruises

Precautions

Proper warm-up before field activity is essential.

Cure 

The best immediate cure is R.I.C.E. treatment plan- Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation in the affected area.

2) Knee Injury

This kind of injury may give mild distress or a severe medical orthopaedic issue for an individual. Some common knee injuries can be classified as-

• Runner's Knee - Knee cap injury on the front or side part.
• Iliotibial Band Injury - In which, the lateral or outer side of the knee is affected, leading to pain and discomfort
• Tendinosis - When the tendons are either degenerated or ruptured muscles in response to the overuse of such muscles without giving them proper rest
• Patellofemoral Syndrome - Occur due to the vigorous, repetitive motion of kneecap, known as "Patella" against the femur bone

Precautions

Putting on braces, especially on older affected areas, eliminates the risk. Proper warm-up, using shoes that offer a good fit, weight training, weight management is crucial to prevent such kind of knee injuries.

Cure

Medications in the form of chondroitin, glucosamine which reduce pain. Corticosteroids, hyaluronic acid and P.R.P. injections can be taken as doctor's prescriptions. In some extremely severe cases, surgery is recommended, but for instant relief, physical therapy with heat soothes the pain and inflammation.

3) Bone Fractures

Bone fractures are the severe damages, occurring in bones of an individual. They are classified as-

• Acute Fractures - A small breakage of bones causing slight damage to surrounding tissues
• Compound Fractures - Occurs when a bone breaks into multiple pieces causing damage to the tissues. It may also occur when a broken bone pierces the skin and causes infection.
• Stress Fractures - Occurs due to slightest cracks on bone due to repetitive stress, friction and force between bones

Precautions

Practice muscle-strengthening and balance exercise and include calcium intakes in daily diet routine.

Cure

Preventing the areas by avoiding excessive movement through elastic bandages, splints, orthopaedic cast surgery for stabilizing broken bones.

4) Dislocations

Once bones get dislocated from their actual position, they didn't meet adequately at their respective joints, causing pain and swelling. This is termed as "dislocation". The two main types of dislocations are-

• Subluxation - Slightest dislocation of bones
• Habitual Dislocation - Dislocation occurring in the same joint many times

Precautions

Adequate warm-up, wearing gears, avoiding irregular paths for running and sprint. 

Cure

Splint, orthopaedic cast, joint manipulation therapies

5) Tennis Elbow / Lateral Epicondylitis

One of the famous sports injuries that has undertaken many great players, including the Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar in the year 2004. It causes vigorous pain in the elbow due to an accidental fall or a sudden jerk in the elbow joint. Usually, point tenderness is observed over the bony prominence along with the outside part of the elbow- the lateral epicondyle.

Precautions

Proper warm-up, stretching, taking balanced diet for proper nourishment.

Cure

R.I.C.E. therapy, anti-inflammatory medication, wrist braces, counters force brace

6) Bruises, Abrasion & Contusion

Bruises are the injury on the surface of a body, especially on the skin. Abrasion is a scraped skin or mucous membrane over a smaller or larger surface area, causing irritation, bleeding and immediate pain. A contusion is bruising of skin along with the underlying tissues. These are the most frequently occurring sports injuries.

Precautions

Wearing protective clothes, specially designed uniform for the sport. Using proper guards such as kneepads etc. The poor and unoriented field should be avoided for the play.

Cure

Ice therapy, disinfectant application, proper bandaging, using antiseptic creams etc.

Physical damages often tend to affect the mental state of well being of an individual. While some of these injuries are visible many of them has a serious effect in the form of internal injuries, which are also a painful condition. For example-

7) Brain Injury & Concussion 

The injuries occurring in the head which disrupt the brain functioning are the most common sports injuries.

• Traumatic Brain Injury - A brain injury often encountered by wrestlers, boxers and judokas, caused by an external force.
• Acquired Brain Injury - An injury that occurs due to heavy pressure on the brain at the cellular level or neurological illness. This usually forms a tumour in the brain. 

One of the most common sports injury, which has taken several athletes down such as Brett Favre, Mike Piazza etc. It occurs due to the effect of an external force and tends to shake the brain vigorously back and forth.

• Hematoma - Clotting of blood, or severe bleeding inside the brain. This leads to a permanent dysfunctioning of the brain leading the individual into the coma
• Diffuse Axonal Injury - The most common head injury which leads to the damage of nerve and brain cells

Precautions

Wearing well-fitted helmets and gear, avoiding steroids and illegal drugs, avoiding alcohol and much caffeine 

Cure

Anticoagulants, pain killers, medical therapies, meditations

8) Ear Injuries

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These are the common injuries, affecting the ear, eardrum and tympanum. Some of the main injuries are-

• Cauliflower Ear - A state where the external parts of the ear are affected and develop blood clots
• Traumatic Sensorineural Deafness - The most common ear injury, affecting the inner ear or auditory nerve leading to hearing loss

Precautions

Avoiding high noise frequency, well-fitted headgears, prevent entry water for swimmers

Cure

Medical therapies and anti-inflammatory drugs

As it is rightly said that preventions are always better than cures, make sure that you don't get injured while practising hard. Always use protective gears and practice in the right format with the right equipment. That's the ultimate way to skip from injuries and deliver your best at the main stage. Be healthy and fit for your sports!

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