SPORTS INJURIES

The term “sports injury” refers to the kinds of injuries that most commonly occur during sports or exercise, but they are not limited to athletes. Factory workers get tennis elbow, painters get shoulder injuries, and gardeners develop tendinitis, even though they may not participate in sports.

Ultimately, however, “sports injuries” refers to those that occur in active individuals. This health topic focuses on the most common types of sports injuries—those that affect the musculoskeletal system. The musculoskeletal system is the network of muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones, and other tissues that provides the body with stability and enables movement.

WHO GETS SPORTS INJURIES?

The risk factors for sports injuries include:

  • Not using the correct exercise and movement techniques with activity.

  • Overtraining, either by training too often, too frequently, or for too long.

  • Changing the intensity of physical activity too quickly.

  • Playing the same sport year-round.

  • Running or jumping on hard surfaces.

  • Wearing shoes that do not have enough support.

  • Not wearing the proper equipment.

  • Having had a prior injury.

  • Having certain anatomical features specific to each joint or poor flexibility.

  • Taking certain medications, such as fluoroquinolones, a class of antibiotics linked to tendinitis and tendon rupture.

The type of injury you are most vulnerable to depends on the type of activity you participate in, your age, and your sex.

TYPES OF SPORTS INJURIES

Sports injuries are broadly categorized into two kinds:

  • Acute injuries, which happen suddenly.

  • Chronic injuries, which are usually related to overuse and develop gradually over time.

In some cases, wear and tear from overuse injuries can set the stage for acute injuries.

SYMPTOMS OF SPORTS INJURIES

The symptoms of a sports injury depend on the type of injury you have.

Symptoms of an acute injury include:

  • Sudden, severe pain.

  • Extreme swelling or bruising.

  • Not being able to place weight on a leg, knee, ankle, or foot.

  • Not being able to move a joint normally.

  • Extreme weakness of an injured limb.

  • A bone or joint that is visibly out of place.

Symptoms of a chronic injury due to overuse include:

  • Pain when you play or exercise.

  • Swelling and a dull ache when you rest.