Sports injuries are a common phenomenon and there are certain things that you can do to reduce your risk of injury no matter what kind of sport you are engaged in. Some of these include stretching properly before physical activity, gradually increasing the intensity of exercise and maintaining a healthy weight. But even with these precautions, there can be certain accidents that can happen. Orthopaedic injuries refer to injuries affecting the musculoskeletal system and this includes muscles, bones, tendons and ligaments.
If you have experienced an injury while playing sports, you can visit Dr. Matt Barnes to get an opinion on your injury. He will be able to come up with a treatment plan that can put you back on the playing field as soon as possible. Sprains are a common injury that can occur when you are engaged in physical activity. This happens when there is a tear in your ligament. Sometimes the ligament is stretched. This happens when there is a sudden impact. Some of the sports where sprains are common are soccer, football and basketball. This is because all of these sports incorporate jumping, pivoting and running. You will experience pain and swelling when you have a sprain and you will need to rest, apply compression and elevate the area to recover.
When a tendon or muscle is torn or stretched, it is called a strain and this can be due to sudden movements or overuse. Any sport that includes repetitive motion has a high risk for strains and these include running and swimming. You will experience much of the same symptoms as a sprain when you have this and the recovery methods are the same. If your bone is cracked or broken, it is called a fracture and this happens due to high impact or contact. This is a common injury in contact sports such as football and rugby. You will experience a lot of pain along with swelling and limited movement. You will need to immobilize the bone and rest to recover. There will be physical therapy needed as well. In severe cases, surgery may be required.
Tendinitis occurs due to inflammation of a tendon and this can be due to repetitive movements or overuse. This is a common injury in sports like golf and tennis. You will experience pain and stiffness when you have tendinitis and you will need to rest, apply ice and participate in physical therapy. If you are engaged in a sport that has sudden stops and starts like soccer and basketball, you are at a higher risk of tearing your meniscus which is a piece of cartilage cushioning the knee joint. While this can be treated with rest, ice, physical therapy, in certain cases you may need surgery. The rotator cuff is a group of tendons and muscles around the shoulder joint and when these are damaged, you will experience weakness, pain and limited mobility. Rotator cuff injuries are common in sports like volleyball and baseball where you have movements such as throwing and lifting.
