Common sports injuries: how can you prevent them
Touchdown! Homerun! Birdie!
Getting the win always sends a rush of excitement to the system. All that hard work training and ignoring your muscles screaming out was all worth it to take the winning trophy home. Until the next day when your ankle is swollen and sensitive to touch.
Now what?
About 3.7 million people were treated in the emergency clinic for sports related injuries. An estimated 5.2 million injuries were reported nationally for both emergency and primary care treatment.
Sports injuries can occur immediately after the incident or develop slowly. In both cases, having a provider look at the injury can prevent permanent damage down the road.
“When I was a high school athlete, we were encouraged to ‘play hurt’. Injuries were part of the game,” says Dr. Brian Reachfrom SIU Medicine Family Medicine in Carbondale, Illinois. Sports injuries are so common, 91% of athletes report having a sports related injury at least once in their career
Some of the most common injuries that can occur include:
- Muscles strains and tears
- Tendonitis
- Concussions
- Shin splints
- Tennis/golfer’s elbow
- Stress fractures
Each of these injuries can range in severity and symptoms. Some cause swelling and redness, some can reduce your range of motion, some can cause a lot of pain.
“Athletes are hesitant to seek care out of fear of being taken out of play. These days we know so much more about problems and that early recognition of injuries can keep things from becoming worse,” Dr. Reach says.
How do we get injured?
Poorly healed sports injuries cause even more damage. Your body will do its best to repair the damage that has been done, but medical care ensures the effort is in the right direction. Without it, scar tissue can limit mobility, leave the injured spot vulnerable for repeat injuries and continue discomfort for years down the road.
As you age, your body doesn’t recover as fast. What may have been simple muscle strain as a 10-year-old hitting the ball around can easily be a muscle tear as a 17-year-old hitting it out of the park. If you haven’t already, seeing a primary care provider for an annual sports physical can point those out before it’s too late.
“Overtraining” with inadequate recovery between sessions can also add unnecessary strain on your body, in turn increasing your chance of injury. Rest days are important, not only for the body, but for the mind as well.
Playing in poor weather, poorly maintained surfaces and equipment, daily stress; there’s a lot of things that can increase your chance of injury. So should we stop playing sports altogether?
Can you prevent a sports injury?
While you can’t necessarily prevent a sports injury, you can reduce your chances. Eating a diet rich of whole foods will ensure your body is getting the nutrients to support healthy bone and muscle development. A good night’s sleep is your body’s number one defense for tired and sore muscles—that’s when it does most of its reparative work.
Visiting your primary care doctor for your annual check-ups or sports physical will be the best course of action to prevent significant issues. “With the help of athletic trainers and physical therapists, we can often find and correct problems with body mechanics, making it less likely the athlete will have recurrent problems,” Dr. Reach says.
If you maintain annual appointments with your primary care provider, they can make sure to check in on your healing process during each visit. This can help prevent long-term impacts of a short-term sports injury.
Sports injuries can affect even the most prepared athlete. “Athletics does not have to ends after high school or college. Good body mechanics, strength, aerobic fitness, nutrition and balance will enable an athlete to compete well into their golden years.”
You can prepare yourself for this year’s playoffs with a quick visit to your primary care provider. Schedule an appointment today and get ready for the gold.
