What are the most common sports injuries?

Are you an athlete? Have you experienced a sports injury? If you’re an athlete and serious about your sport, you’ll always have to be aware of potential injuries. In this article, we will explore common injuries and sports injuries.

Common injuries

Physical activity is important for kids and adults alike. Many sports injuries in adults are the same or similar to those occurring in kids. 

There are several ways to avoid or prevent sports injuries in kids.

1. Do not have your kids specialize in a specific sport at a young age. As a kid, specializing in a sport can lead to potential injuries due to overuse.
2. Taking time off and resting in the off season are essential for avoiding injuries.
3. Be sure that you’re properly warming up before practice or a game and cooling down after.
4. Eat a healthy, well balanced diet.
5. Always wear the correct helmets and other safety equipment.
6. Teach your kids the rules of the sport they are playing. Injuries are less likely to happen if your kids understand the positions they’re playing, and fully understand the rules.
7. Communication is key. Without embarrassing them, you want to make sure they’re aware of their surroundings on the court or field as well as where they are in relation to other players to avoid a collision resulting in an injury.
8. Make sure you allow any injury you may experience to heal before resuming playing the sport. 

Specific injuries are more prevalent in different sports, especially in kids.

• Ankle sprains are most likely to happen in basketball. Wearing the best and appropriate fitting shoes is one way to avoid this injury.

• Concussions often happen in football. In order to avoid a concussion and protect yourself from this injury, learn the correct tackling techniques and always follow the rules of the game. 

• Kids who play lacrosse are more likely to experience face and head injuries. It is important to wear the right fitting helmet, goggles, and mouth guards. 

• ACL tears are most common in soccer players. To help prevent ACL tears, implement an ACL prevention program. This will help correct any muscle imbalances. It will also improve cutting and jumping skills. 

• Shin splints and stress fractures occur in track and field events. To avoid these injuries, make sure you’re warming up and cooling down before and after any event. Make sure you are well conditioned prior to the first practice. Going from zero to one hundred isn’t a wise decision. Finally, eat a healthy, balanced diet. 

• Shoulder injuries are most common in volleyball. In order to avoid shoulder injuries, always warm up well before a game or practice, and strengthen your rotator cuff.

Sports injury

Here are some of the most common sports injuries.

• Strains
• Sprains
• Knee injuries
• Rotator cuff injuries
• Tennis elbow
• Shin splints
• Back pain
• Fractures
• Dislocations
• Concussions

Strains

Because we have so many muscles and tendons, strains are most likely to happen while playing sports. It’s easy to have a tendon overstretched or torn. Muscle strains often happen in the back and hamstrings. As a result, strains can cause pain, swelling, spasms, and will affect the movement of the injured body part.

Sprains

Sprains are another common sports injury. Sprains happen when ligaments which hold bones together at a joint twist in the wrong direction. The pain from a sprain can be very intense. In some cases immobilization is needed to avoid further injury. 

Knee injuries

Knee injuries such as an ACL tear, dislocations, and fractures are most common. These injuries happen in sports that require jumping, such as basketball and volleyball. The symptoms of a knee injury include pain under the kneecap, stiffness, or weakness in the knee.

Rotator cuff injuries

The rotator cuff is the group of muscles and tendons around the shoulder joint. Rotator cuffs help with shoulder movement and stability. These injuries often happen in sports such as swimming and baseball. Common symptoms include shoulder swelling, pain or discomfort when lifting your arm, and pain when reaching behind your back.

Tennis elbow

Tennis elbow occurs from repeated motion that puts strain on the elbow ligaments. This injury happens most often in sports such as tennis and golf. One way to avoid and prevent tennis elbow is to do stretching exercises and take breaks. 

Shin splints

Shin splints happen from high impact movements such as sprinting, dodging, or abrupt starts and stops. Shin splints are common in runners, soccer players, and basketball players. Stretching and the right footwear are ways to avoid shin splints.

Back pain

Every sport can affect your back and spine. This can cause inflammation or disc damage in the upper or lower back. Back pain is often treated with physical therapy, rest, or surgery, depending on the severity of the injury. 

Fractures

Fractures of the arms, legs, or feet occur the greatest frequency in sports. All injuries that are potential fractures should be evaluated. Serious fractures may require long-term immobilization and possibly surgery. Physical therapy is usually part of the rehab recommendations, once the fracture is stabilized or healed.

Dislocations

Dislocations happen when the ends of your bones shift out of place inside the joint. This injury is most common in sports such as basketball and soccer. Dislocations can cause pain, swelling, and being incapable of moving the affected limb.

Concussions

Concussions happen from a hard fall or rapid blow to the head. This can cause injury to the skull and brain. Loss of consciousness and headaches can occur from a concussion. Because concussions can cause more serious damage, it is important to see a doctor or someone who treats head injuries immediately.

Preventing sports injuries

Sports injuries are bound to happen. Knowing about the potential different injuries will help you be prepared when they happen. There are orthopedic specialists who can evaluate, treat, and make physical or sports medicine referrals which will help you overcome your injuries.

 Katie Meyers is an SEO Specialist at SEO Design Chicago. Before joining the SEO Design Chicago team, she interned for them, as well as interned as a Content Writer at HZD Creates. Katie is from Washington State and has an AA and a Social Media Marketing Certificate. She enjoys Gonzaga men’s and women’s basketball, and spending time with her dog, family, and friends. Katie likes reading and taking a variety of classes. Her favorite places to visit include the Oregon coast and a local lake cabin.