Common Types of Sports Injuries

Sports are a hobby for many, as a way to enjoy, exercise, and form relationships with peers. In sunny south Florida, Floridians have access to a wide multitude of sports, including football, soccer, lacrosse, basketball, running track, golf, and cross country. Unfortunately, sports introduce a high potential of injury from accident, due to their high level of strenuous physical activity, along with high contact in certain sports. Sports that involve high contact among players include football, lacrosse, and of course, wrestling. For athletes, we discuss the most common types of injuries that are a result of sports accidents.

Pulled muscles, also known as muscle strain, occurs when muscle is overstretched and tears. Symptoms of a pulled muscle may include pain, swelling, weakness, and inability to use the torn muscle. Muscles in the quadriceps, calves, handstrings, groin, and lower back. The best way to resolve muscle strains are with RICE, which includes Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation of the muscle. The more an injured athlete uses RICE, the more helpful RICE will be to the injury. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may help manager severe pain, and swelling. More severe, painful muscle strains typically require elevation and treatment by a medical professional.

In addition to pulled muscles (“muscle strain”), another common injury from sports is torn ACL, which is anterior cruciate ligament. The anterior cruciate ligament helps hold the knee and joint together, providing stability. As a result of a torn ACL, an injured athlete may experience pain, swelling, and loss of range of motion, making it difficult to walk. A torn ACL required reconstructive surgery, typically requiring a graft from another ligament in the athlete’s body. Major rehabilitation is required, in order to restore the strength and function of the knee joint, post-surgery. The athlete’s physical well-being also effect whether or not surgery is required, including age, health status, and the desired level of activity of the patient. Although braces and physical therapy will ease the pain, surgery is usually still required.

Another type of sports injury that is relatively common is a torn MCL, a torn medical collateral ligament. An MCL connects the upper leg bone, the femur, the the larger bone of the lower leg, the tibia. The MCL is located on the inner side of the knee. A torn MCL typically occurs as a result when the knee joint is pressed sideways, making an improper movement or by receiving a direct blow to the knee. Pain, swelling, and instability of a joint are common symptoms of a torn MCL. As with a torn ACL and pulled muscles, RICE typically alleviates symptoms. Surgery may be essential if other knee structures are injured.

Shin splints are a common injury of athletes, especially in sports that require fast or extensive running. Shin splints are throbbing, aching, or stabbing pain felt on the inner, lower leg. Pain occurs when muscles and tendons around the tibia, the larger of the lower lower leg bones, become inflamed. Shin splints may be relieved from stretching, resting, and applying ice to the inflamed or pained area. A personal injury attorney will be beneficial in the event a sports accident occurs, resulting in injury. Although sports injuries may vary from minor to severe, it is recommended to seek medical attention, especially if you wish to file a claim in the future.

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