Common Sports-Related Injuries
Playing sports is a fantastic way to stay physically active, improve coordination, and make social connections with teammates. Despite these benefits, it can also lead to injuries. The most prevalent sports-related injuries among athletes today include:
Sprains and Strains
A sprain is a stretched or torn ligament, while a strain is a stretched or torn muscle. These injuries are very common and can range in severity. Minor sprains and strains usually resolve with at-home therapies, while severe cases of these injuries will need professional medical care throughout the recovery process.
Joint Dislocations
When 2 bones within a joint become separated, it’s known as a dislocation. A sudden impact on the joint, like a fall or running into another player, is the most common cause of dislocations. The shoulder accounts for most dislocations among athletes, but the fingers, elbows, knees, and hips can also be affected by this injury.
Shin Splints
Shin splints result from repeated stress on the shinbone and the surrounding connective tissues. This injury causes symptoms including:
- A dull, aching pain that extends down the front of the leg(s)
- Tenderness in the shins
- Worsened pain during or after physical activity
People who participate in high-impact sports and activities that involve frequent stops and starts, like basketball, running, soccer, and football, are the most likely to experience shin splints.
ACL Tears
A torn ACL is a common knee injury among athletes. It involves a tear in the anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, which extends diagonally through the middle of the knee. The typical symptoms of this injury include a popping sensation in the knee, severe pain, lost range of motion, swelling, and an inability to support your weight with the knee joint.
ACL tears often require extensive medical care to secure a complete recovery. Physicians may recommend surgery for ACL tears in athletes who want to return to their sport.
To learn most about the latest sports injury treatments, view our database of regenerative doctors and clinics in your area.
