Sports Injuries

A sports injury can happen to anyone, regardless of when was the last time you picked up a baseball bat. But some factors put you at an increased risk of injury.

Age: Children are at an increased risk of sports injury because of their tender bones, tendons, and active nature. They push themselves a lot and are thus at a greater risk of injury.

The elderly are also at a higher risk of sports injury for opposite reasons. The bones generally weaken as one age, and newer injuries may aggravate the older ones.

Lack of care: Serious injuries often start as small ones. Injuries resulting from overuse, such as tendonitis and stress fractures, can be easily detected early, but if left untreated, they can develop into serious injuries.

Overweight: Being overweight stresses the joints and muscles, making them more susceptible to sports injuries.

Prevention of Sports Injuries

Warming up and stretching before exercising are the best ways to prevent sports injuries. Muscles warmed up become more flexible, allowing them to absorb quick bends, jerks, and other movements, making injury less likely. Cold muscles are prone to tears.
Apart from that, following some steps help prevent sports injuries.

Use proper technique and movement
Learn the right movements for your sport. Specific sports require specific movements, and moving in a certain manner reduces the risk of developing an injury.

Use proper sports gear
Some sports require you to wear specific equipment to play them properly. Invest in a high-quality pair of shoes, for example, if you are playing football. The lack of it may result in an injury.

Don’t overdo
If you get hurt, make sure you take proper rest before you resume playing. Playing while you are already hurt will only make the condition worse.

Cool down
Always take time to cool down after an active sport. Do the proper stretches and take time to get your muscles in their normal state before you resume your daily activities.
Following these simple rules will help you prevent an injury to a large extent.

Diagnosis

Many sports injuries have immediate pain and can thus be detected easily. Others, the ones happening from overuse, are not so easy to detect. These injuries, the latter ones, are detected during physical examinations and checkups.

If you think you have an injury, your doctor might use the following techniques to diagnose it.

Physical examination. Your doctor might examine the area physically and try to move the area to check the tenderness of the region. To check how it’s moving or not moving (if that is the case), physical examination plays a vital part.

Checking your medical history. This involves asking you how you got the injury or what you have done since the injury.

Imaging tests. For a clearer view of exactly where and what the injury is, your doctor might suggest XRays, CT scans, MRIs, and ultrasounds help your medical provider see inside your body.

Treatment of Sports Injury

Sports Injury Treatment consists of various techniques, of which RICE is a prevalent treatment. RICE stands for:
● Rest
● Ice
● Compression
● Elevation

This treatment is most helpful for mild sports injuries. Use RICE within the first 24 to 36 hours of getting the injury for the best results. It can help reduce swelling and prevent additional pain and bruising in the additional days of getting an injury.

Apart from RICE, both OTC (over-the-counter) and prescription drugs are available to treat mild to severe pain.

For old injuries and pain, treatments like therapeutic exercises and physiotherapy work best. Certified physiotherapists will check the condition and apply pressure at certain points or suggest specific exercises to strengthen the adjoining muscles and reduce pain.
If, however, the pain and swelling are severe, always consult a doctor immediately. See a doctor or a sports injury professional at once if the joint shows signs of:

●Severe swelling and pain
●Popping or crunching sounds when you try to move the joint
●Weakness or inability to put on weight on the joint
●Visible lumps, bumps, or other deformities

Check your injury with a doctor if you feel these as well.

●Dizziness
●Difficulty in breathing
●Fever