Many people who participate in sport or exercises are getting injured. These people are more likely than other people of the same to get tendon and muscle injuries and bone fractures. But this does not mean that you should avoid sport. We know that when we are staying active, then it has positive benefits on our health. This is a reason why we should be careful while we are doing some kind of sport.
Symptoms of Sports Injuries
Contents
Below are given the most common sports injuries and their symptoms:
Metatarsal stress fracture:
It is known that 2nd to 4th toes are vulnerable to breakage if you are running long distances or you push off with your toes. Marching drills and army cadets are having more chances to suffer from stress fractures during their training camps. Also gymnasts and dancers can experience stress fractures because they are frequently jumping [1,2]. When you have this type of sport injury, then the front of your foot starts hurting during the exercise and this pain usually stops when you finish with the exercise. It is known that when you have subsequent bout of exercise, then the pain appears earlier and earlier and it gets worse. The fracture can take up to three months to fully heal.
Lateral and medial epicondylitis:
This type of sport injury is more commonly known as backhand and forehand tennis elbow. This condition can happen with overuse of a screwdriver but the tennis can be more problematic because you are gripping hard but also there are constant shocks which are transmitted to the flexed wrists tendons [3]. Golfers, baseball players and people who have to lug heavy suitcase around are having more chances of getting forehand tennis elbow. You can feel the pain when you flex the wrist forward (it is known as medial tendons) or backward (it is known as lateral tendons).
Lumbar strain:
This type of sport injury is standard weightlifter’s injury but also it can happen in people who play sport that involves sudden twisting of the back, such as baseball and golf. The sudden lower back pain is appearing when lifting or twisting. This can seem minor for an hour or 2 but if you continue doing the exercise, then it will give you a sudden deterioration with back spasms and extreme pain.
Achilles tendinitis:
If you are participating in jumping or running sports, then you have the highest chances to damage the Achilles tendon [4]. When the Achilles tendon is injured, then it feels tender if you squeeze it between the fingers. The pain is usually worst in the morning and it gets better when you are walking. It is known that the vigorous exercise will increase the pain a beat and then it will improve it. You should never exercise if you have injured Achilles tendon without talking with therapist or a medicine physician because it can worsen your condition.
Shin splints:
This type of sport injury has many different causes and it can happen on the inside or outside of the shin. When you have anterolateral shin splints, then the pain around the front of the shins starts immediately when your heel strikes the ground awkwardly. When you have posteromedial shin splints, then the pain is felt on the inner parts of the shins and when you stand on your toes, then the pain is worse. If you have shin splints and you continue running on a regular basis, then the pain can spread toward the knee. Doctors are making tests to understand the exact cause for shin splints.
It is very important to talk with your doctor if you have some type of sport injury because if you continue doing exercises without proper treatment, then it can get worse.
Causes of Sports Injuries
The most common causes for sport injuries are unsafe exercising environments; weakness in the muscles, tendons or ligaments; structural abnormalities and poor training methods. The poor training is the most common cause for sport injuries. We know that muscles need 48 hours to recover after a workout [5]. Also if you increase the intensity of exercising too quickly and if you are not stopping when the pain develops while exercising, then this could also lead to sport injury.
References:
[1] Ferretti A, Papandrea P. Stress fracture of the trochlea in an adolescent gymnast. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. 1994;3(6):399-401.
[2] Nakamoto JC, Saito M, Cunha AP, Luques IU. Scaphoid stress fracture in gymnastics athlete: A case report. Revista Brasileira de Ortopedia (English Edition). 2009;44(6):533-5.
[3] Montalvan B, Parier J, Brasseur JL, et al. Extensor carpi ulnaris injuries in tennis players: a study of 28 cases. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2006;40(5):424-9.
[4] Miners AL, Bougie TL. Chronic Achilles tendinopathy: a case study of treatment incorporating active and passive tissue warm-up, Graston Technique®, ART®, eccentric exercise, and cryotherapy. The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association. 2011;55(4):269-79.
[5] Smith D. Setting the record straight on muscle recovery time. Lean Lifters. Retrieved from leanlifters.com/muscle-recovery-time-set-record-straight/
