Sports are rewarding, exciting and come with a range of health benefits. While most sports are overwhelmingly safe, there’s always a risk of injury when you partake in physical activity. Here’s a rundown of the most common sports injuries and how to spot them.
#1 Achilles tendon injuries
Your Achilles tendon connects your calf muscle to your heel and is the largest tendon in the body. Since the area around the back of the foot comes under immense stress in most sports, it’s an obvious candidate for injury. Even walking puts strain on the tendon. Tears are more common if you don’t perform stretches before you start exercising, wear the wrong shoes or suddenly and dramatically increase your activity levels.
#2 Dislocations
Although painful and distressing, dislocations are easily treatable. They’re also extremely common in contact sports like soccer, rugby and football. When the ends of your bones move from their usual position, a dislocation occurs. Pain can be extreme and is often accompanied by swelling. A lot of dislocations are clearly visible and require prompt medical intervention to reset the bone.
#3 Back injuries
Your back is engaged in all physical activity, even if you don’t always notice it. Muscle strains and tears are extremely common, especially in sports like tennis and golf, where the swing puts excess pressure on the back. Some injuries are more serious though. Contact sports and fast paced activities like skiing can cause spinal cord injuries, which require rapid treatment. Treatments like those offered by bioxcellerator.com can speed up the recovery process quite dramatically, increasing mobility and quality of life.
#4 Jumper’s knee
Jumper’s Knee is the more common name for patellar tendinitis, and you don’t need to be a jumper to suffer from it. Inflammation in the tissue around the knee causes everything from discomfort to swelling, and the condition is prevalent. Sports that involve a lot of jumping (basketball, for example) put a strain on muscle tissue, but playing any sport on a hard surface can cause the condition. Similarly, partaking in intense physical activity when you’re overweight is another risk factor.
#5 Runner’s knee
Similar in scope and symptoms to Jumper’s Knee, this condition is caused by the repetitive motions involved in running, walking, biking or anything that entails repeated bends of the knee. Pain is commonly felt behind the knee and is exacerbated when you bend the joint. You might also experience a “grinding” sensation when you bend, which is a classic symptom that warrants rest and further examination.
#6 Sprains
Sprains vary from the extremely mild to the more severe; some even require medical treatment. They’re one of the most well-known sporting injuries in the world and occur when you overstretch a ligament close to a joint. Risk factors include inadequate warmups and falling with a “twisting” motion. Pain and swelling quickly follow, along with (in some cases) bruises. Even minor sprains need rest, and you should consult a doctor if your symptoms are severe.
