If you are an active sporting individual, chances are, you will experience a sports injury at some point during your lifetimes. From sprains to strains to even broken bones, it is important that you recognise the health risk of sports injuries and understand what treatments are available to you should you experience one.
Keep reading to learn more about sports injuries and the most common types, as well as how you may be able to improve your chances of avoiding experiencing sports injuries in the future.
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What are common sports injuries?
There are a few common sports injuries that individuals may experience if they are participating in a sport often. Understanding these will help broaden your knowledge on your body as well as your overall health while performing sports.
The most common sports injuries include:
- Strains: strains occur when a muscle or tendon in your body is stretched farther than it should or moved in ways that it shouldn’t move. Doing so may cause tears, damage and pain in the muscle or tendon. Strains most commonly occur in the hamstrings, groin muscles or quads.
- Sprains: sprains occur in ligaments (the tissue connecting bones). When ligaments are turned the wrong way, they may pull or tear resulting in a sprain. A sprain can cause varying levels of pain and may also take longer to heal than strains. Depending on the severity of a sprain, it may also leave the ligaments weak and susceptible to future sprains, meaning adequate protection is required.
- Knee injuries: injuries to the knee are also common in sports due to the joint being used frequently. The knee also endures a lot of impact in most sports, making it more susceptible to injury if not properly protected. Tears in the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), dislocations and fractures are common types of knee injuries
- Fractures: a fracture of the bone involves a break in the continuity of it. Fractures can be incredibly painful and require a medical diagnosis as well as adequate healthcare for healing.
How can you prevent sports injuries?
Fortunately, there are many ways you can consider to help increase the chances of you preventing and avoiding sports injuries in the future (while continuing to participate in sports). These include:
- Stretching before doing sports. This is so that you loosen your muscles and ligaments and can decrease the chances of them straining or spraining as a result.
- Performing muscle movement exercises such as yoga. Yoga therapy can also help with loosening the muscles and ligaments so that they are less susceptible to strains and sprains
- Visiting a chiropractor. A chiropractor may help you treat existing knee injuries (or increase your chances of avoiding them) by applying adjustments to realign certain joints in your body
- Seeking professional medical evaluations. If you are experiencing pain, it is wise to visit a professional healthcare provider to obtain a diagnosis on your health condition. Doing so regularly may also help with identifying health concerns before they worsen.
Although common, sports injuries are not entirely impossible to prevent. Taking the right steps to care for your well being is essential in increasing your chances of avoiding sports injuries. Make sure to do your due diligence and research on the topic so that you have a greater understanding of sports injuries and how you may address them.
