Sports injuries occur while engaging in sports or exercise
Most commonly, they occur due to overtraining, lack of conditioning and poor technique. You are more at risk of experiencing a sports injury if you fail to warm up, haven’t been active recently or play a contact sport.
Common Sports Injuries
Different sports lead to different injuries and can have different symptoms and complications. They commonly involve soft tissues like muscles, ligaments, tendons and fascia. Sports injuries can range from minor to severe.
Some of the most common sports injuries include:
- Strain or pulled muscle
- Sprains
- Knee injuries, such as a torn ACL or MCL
- Swollen muscles
- Shin splints
- Achilles tendonitis, or plantar fasciitis
- Fractures
- Dislocation
- Rotator cuff injury
- Concussion
SPC offers various services to help you manage or treat your back pain.
- Chiro
- Physio
- RMT
Prevention
Prevention is the best medicine. When engaging in sports or exercise, there are certain precautions that you can take to help prevent an injury from occurring.
Most importantly, always warm up properly and stretch. Cold muscles are more likely to be overstretched and tear.
Following the below recommendations will also help to keep you safe:
- Use proper technique
- Use the proper equipment, and maintain equipment in good condition
- Cool down after your activity
- Don’t overdo it. Listen to your body and how you’re feeling
Resume activity slowly if you’ve been sedentary
or previously injured.
Treatment Options
If you have experienced a mild to moderate sports injury, the best course of treatment may be to use the RICE method.
RICE stands for:
- Rest
- Ice
- Compression
- Elevation
Use the RICE method for the first 24 to 48 hours. If you are experiencing pain, you can also take medication to help manage it. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are most often recommended for sports-related injuries. The RICE method, in combination with anti-inflammatory medication, will help to reduce swelling and prevent additional pain and bruising.
When to seek medical attention
If your pain and discomfort are persistent beyond a few days, or your initial injury was severe, you may need medical attention.
Talk to a doctor if you experience:
- Severe swelling and pain
- Visible lumps, bumps or deformities
- Popping or crunching of the joint
- Weakness, or the inability to bear weight on a joint or limb
- Instability
Always seek help after an injury if you experience any of the following:
- Difficulty breathing
- Dizziness
- Fever
These may be signs of a more serious injury requiring medical intervention and monitoring.
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