Have you been injured playing a sport?
Sports injuries are exceedingly common. Out of the 30 million child and teen athletes in the United States, about 3.5 million get injured every year. Of course, some athletes are more prone to injury than others; those who play contact sports are more likely to get injured than those who swim.
Still, every sport comes with some degree of risk, and you should know the most common sports injuries. We’ll get into each of them below. Keep reading to learn more!
Knee Injuries
A few of the most common sports injuries include some engagement of the knees.
Some of the most common knee injuries include jumper’s knee and runner’s knee. Jumper’s knee occurs a lot in sports with a great deal of jumping, such as basketball or volleyball. It happens when the tissue between your kneecap and thigh becomes inflamed or injured.
If you have it, you may experience knee pain as well as stiffness or weakness. The injury can either develop suddenly or come about over a longer period of time.
Runners do damage to their knees through the repetitive motion of running. This can result in runner’s knee, which manifests as pain right behind your kneecap.
Runner’s knee can also occur from sports unrelated to running, such as walking, biking, or bending your knee regularly. If you hit your knee especially hard, this injury can occur.
Achilles Tendon Injuries
Damage to your Achilles tendon constitutes some of the most common injuries.
You have two Achilles tendons, each located at the back of your heel, connecting it to your calf muscle. They help you walk and run.
Injuries to the Achilles tendon happen often in sports that engage the tendon, such as running. If you have an injured Achilles tendon, you might experience pain when you walk or run. The area may be warm to the touch, and you may notice some swelling.
Concussions
A concussion is a traumatic brain injury that often occurs in contact sports. It is one of the worst sports injuries because of its impact on the brain.
Your brain doesn’t fill your whole head. Instead, cerebrospinal fluid cushions it, preventing it from slamming into the sides of your skull. A blow to the head, a sudden back-and-forth movement, or violent shaking can cause the brain to push past the fluid and ram into the skull.
A person experiencing a concussion might lose consciousness. They might experience nausea and vomiting, ringing in the ears, and blurry vision. Fatigue is also common.
If you or anyone around you is experiencing concussion symptoms, you need to go to the doctor. Prioritize resting and avoid stimulating the brain in unnecessary ways. If a person is unconscious for longer than 30 seconds, repeatedly vomits, or experiences seizures, call emergency services.
Need a sports injury doctor? Visit Travis R. Liddell M.D.
Go Beyond Learning About the Most Common Sports Injuries
Knowing the most common sports injuries keeps you and your loved ones healthier.
Knowledge about injury symptoms and how they come about helps you avoid getting injured. It also will keep you from pushing yourself when you would be better off resting and recovering. Finally, knowing about the possible injuries helps you know when you need to go to the doctor.
Want to learn more about your health? Check out our other articles today!
