Common Sports Injuries You Should Know About

Posted on: 17 August 2022

Taking part in athletic activities always comes with the risk of an injury. In many cases, an injury can prevent you from doing any type of sport along with your normal daily living activities. For that reason, you should make sure to seek proper physical therapy care to ensure you regain your normal strength.

The following are among the most common types of sports injuries you could sustain during practices or games.

Strained Muscles

Some of the most common sports injuries are strained or pulled muscles. Thankfully, they are also less severe than other types of injuries you could sustain. A sprain or pulled muscle occurs when you overuse a muscle. This can happen when you exercise incorrectly, continue to run while you have another injury, or if you continue to work out after you are beyond tired. A strained muscle can occur in most parts of the body but are most common in the hamstring, neck, and lower back.

A pulled muscle feels like a very sudden pain as soon as the injury occurs. You will then have some continued stiffness and soreness. You might also encounter some swelling. To help heal from a strained muscle, your therapist will have you keep the area elevated while applying an ice pack to help keep the swelling down. Your therapist may also have you wear a compression sock or bandage. If you continue to experience numbness, pain, or immobility of the area, you should see your healthcare provider for further treatment.

Shin Splints

Another type of common sports injury is shin splints. Shin splints occur when you overexert your body. They are often the result of small fractures in your bone that generally heal themselves. Shin splints typically will heal on their own as long as you take care of yourself. The best thing you can do is rest as much as possible. Once you start to regain your mobility, avoid running up and downhills. Also, take a look at your form as you exercise to ensure you are doing your activity correctly. Incorrect form can prevent you from healing. If you experience a lot of pain, swelling, or if the area is hot to the touch, you need to seek medical attention. Your physical therapist may have you do some therapies to help facilitate the healing. If this does not help, you may need surgery for more extreme shin splint cases.

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