The term “sports injuries” in the broadest sense refers to injuries which occur during sport or exercise.
An injury can happen to an athlete in peak condition or a person just enjoying sport or trying to keep fit.
These injuries usually involve the musculoskeletal system, which includes the muscles, bones and associated tissues like cartilage.
Common causes of sports injuries
- Accidents.
- Not warming up properly before exercise.
- Poor training practices or improper gear.
- Pushing too hard for your current level of fitness.
- Overuse of a part of the body when participating in a certain activity e.g. tennis elbow.
- Hard contact with something e.g. rugby tackle.
Common types of sports injuries
- Muscle sprains and strains.
- Ligament damage – see Ankle sprains
- Tears of tendons.
- Dislocations.
- Fractured bones including vertebrae.
- Tendonitis – see Tennis and Golfers elbow
What to do if you get injured.
- Rest – try not to move the injured area too much, protect the injured and the injured area.
- Ice – apply an ice pack to help reduce the pain and inflammation to the injured area.
- Compress – Applying compression to the swollen area will help to reduce the swelling
- Elevate – Elevating the injured area above the heart. This helps the circulation and return to the heart, reducing swelling.
Book now or return to Conditions we can treat
Our Osteopaths are qualified to diagnose and treat all types of sports injuries as well as offer you the advice you may need. We can often add or change one small part of your exercise and training regime to reduce the risk of further injury, prevention is easier than cure!
DONT FORGET young bodies are particularly vulnerable to repetitive and high intensity strains. The damage they do now may affect them for their whole life. Treatment and professional advice will help reduce the risk of future problems.