What are Sports-Related Injuries?

Proper warm-up, stretching, and regular exercise are great ways to prevent injuries in daily life. However, injuries can still occur while exercising or engaging in a sport. If you choose a sport as your form of regular exercise, it’s important to be able to recognize and treat sports-related injuries.

Sports-Related Injuries

Sports-related injuries happen when engaging in a sport or exercise. There is a wide range of injuries that can occur. For example: sprains, knee injuries, strains, fractures, dislocations, ruptures, rotator cuff injuries, and even swollen muscles.

Sports-related injuries are normally soft-tissue injuries. There are two types of soft-tissue injuries: acute and overuse injuries. Acute injuries happen suddenly, like after falling or running into something. Overuse injuries happen over time and extended use. For example, if you slightly injure yourself and continue to exercise, you may cause an overuse injury. This type of injury can become problematic over time, especially when you don’t give yourself time to heal.

Sports-Related Ligament Injuries

Ligaments are the fibrous tissues that connect to your bones and hold them together. This fibrous tissue is very sturdy and flexible, making it easy for you to move around. Unfortunately, this is also where some of the main sports related injuries occur.

Ligament-related injuries can be as minor as spraining your ankle. However, there are also knee ligament injuries, which include anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments (ACL, PCL), and medical and lateral collateral ligaments (MCL, LCL). Since ligaments are what connects your bones together, you may also suffer elbow, shoulder, and thumb ligament injuries.

Treating Sports-Related Injuries with the RICE Method

The RICE method (rest, ice, compression, elevation) is commonly used to treat minor sports-related injuries. For minor issues, this can help reduce swelling and pain. If your injury seems to be getting worse and you experience dizziness, strained breathing, or a fever, call a doctor immediately.

Recovery time for most minor sports-related injuries can be around 2–8 weeks, depending on the extent of the injury.

It’s important to take care of yourself to avoid injuries. Some ways to prevent sports-related injuries include staying properly hydrated, stretching before exercising, and getting plenty of sleep.

At Mid-Maryland Musculoskeletal Institute, we specialize in sports medicine and treating sports-related injuries. Our experienced specialists have the expertise needed to help you get back in the game.