Most sports demand certain levels of physicality, especially contact sports like football, basketball, combat sports, and hockey. When you participate in such sports, you’re already permitting yourself that, at some point and some way, you’ll sustain an injury.
There’s no perfect way to avoid sports injuries; even if you wear pads and gear, accidents might still happen despite you being extra cautious on the field or on the court. You just have to hope that it will be a clean game and that nobody gets hurt on both teams.
But if you do get hurt, you can do many things to recover. RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) is considered a first aid in sports injuries, especially when you sustain the likes of an ankle sprain. You can also have your injury treated, such as getting Physical Therapy in Livonia, MI. Even after your injury completely heals, getting physical therapy will make sure that you don’t re-aggravate that injury.
With that said, it’s also important that you have an idea of the most common injuries in sports. This way, you’ll be more informed and prepared to deal with such things when that time comes.
1. Knee Injuries
As an athlete, your knee bears much impact on movements like jumping, leaping, or quickly shifting from one direction to the other. This is why knees are more vulnerable to injuries, as they tend to be easily overused in sports.
A knee sprain is one thing, but there are far more major knee injuries that are usually caused by strenuous physical activities. Major injuries like Torn ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament), Meniscus Tear, Patellar Tendinitis, and Torn MCL (Medial Collateral Ligament) typically happen to athletes.
With all the medical technology we have today, there’s always hope that you can return to your normal playing routine even if you’ve suffered from a major knee injury. Of course, it will take months or even a year to recover, but your knee will heal if you go through proper treatment, rest, and therapy.
2. Sprains and Strains
A sprain or a strain would not take too long to recover from, as compared to a Torn ACL. However, it is still painful and you’ll have a difficult time moving around. Just take an ankle sprain as an example; it’s a 3-4 day injury that will absolutely limit your mobility.
While it’s true that sprains and strains are considered minor injuries, you should also keep track of how often you sustain them. For instance, if you repeatedly turn your ankle, there could be an underlying issue as to why your ankle has weakened.
3. Concussion
Concussions happen when your head hits a solid surface, probably a collision with another player or when your head hits the ground first. Some concussions might result in temporary loss of consciousness, while others might not have immediate symptoms. Either way, you should have yourself checked right away.
4. Shoulder Injuries
May it be an individual sport like tennis or a contact sport such as basketball, athletes tend to hurt their shoulders more often than they want to. Shoulder injuries usually come from sports that require overhead motion, including tennis, weightlifting, swimming, baseball, and throwing events in track and field.
5. Joint Dislocations
A dislocation happens when two bones separate at a joint. There are different types of joint dislocations, with the most common ones happening in the finger, elbow, shoulder, and hip. RICE or placing a splint are recommended treatments for joint dislocation, but more severe types of dislocations might require operational treatment like surgery.
