"Preventing and Treating Common Sport Injuries:

Strains, sprains, and joint injuries most commonly occur during exercise and sports. These injuries are not limited to athletes. Whilst some sports injuries are easily and quickly treated, others require further medical attention and can be complicated.

Osteotherapy by Khush Mandaviya is skilled and trained to treat patients with pain and injury prevention.

Here are several tips to help you stay comfortable and happy as you enjoy playing sports. 

What are common sports injuries? 

Sports injuries typically happen while playing sports, though many injuries labeled ‘sports injuries’ could also result from car accidents, altercations, time spent at the gym, or occur at the workplace. The injuries to which an athlete is vulnerable can depend on the sport itself, with football players far more likely to experience concussions than tennis players, for example. 

The most common sports injuries are sprains and strains. Sprains result from overstretched or torn ligaments, the fibrous tissue that connects bones to other bones. Strains result from overstretched or torn muscles or tendons, which connect muscle to bone. 

Injuries to the Achilles Tendon are extremely painful. Whether this tendon has ruptured or breaks, you can’t miss the sensation and are unlikely to be able to walk at all. Bone fractures and dislocated joints are also common sports injuries; fractures will need weeks, possibly longer, to fully heal. 

Injuries to the Shoulder Tendons are the most common sites of injury. This can be associated with jobs or sports involving repetitve overhead motions, like painters, climbers, tennis players and swimmers. Resulting in rotator cuff injury, impingement syndrome, tendonitis and bursitis.

While the number of common and less-common sports injuries continues, know that there are risk factors for sports injuries, besides the fact that they primarily affect athletes. People at elevated risk of experiencing sports injuries include people who aren’t active and people who fail to warm up properly before physical activity. People who play contact sports are also more likely to sustain sports injuries.    

What should I do if I’m injured? 

If you are hurt during a game, a shift at work, or after an accident, stop what you are doing, and get to a place where you can sit down.

The RICE method is the most often used emergency treatment for most types of sports injuries. ‘RICE’ is an acronym for :

Rest -  Relax the injured area, you will find the pain will begin to subside

Ice- application of ice 20mins every 2-3 hours, will reduce inflammation and soorthe the area causing pain

Compress- wrap the area with bandage will support healing and provide support to the site of injury

Elevate - keep the site of injury raised above the heart to reduce pain and inflammation

Whatever the intensity of your injury, treating it as close to immediately as possible is essential to a full recovery. If the pain from your injury persists or worsens, over the next two days, your injury may be more serious than you realise. If you’re still struggling with pain in the days after your injury, contact Khush Mandaviya at Osteotherapy.

How can I prevent a sports injury? 

Sports injuries do not have to be inevitable, and we’re pleased to share the best ways to protect yourself from experiencing sports injuries.  

Adequate warming up time - Some athletes spend twenty minutes on their warm-up routine, while others may spend closer to 30 or even 45 minutes. Choose a warm up that includes plenty of progressively deeper stretching, eventually adding movements that elevate your heart rate, followed by movements specific to the sport you’re playing.

Schedule Rest days - Overtraining either by training too often, too frequently, and or for too long. This limits enough recovery time between workouts,

Use of proper protective gear - including supportive shoes, this helps keep you safe while you’re in motion. Use them consistently if your sport normally uses padding, helmets, or gloves. Even if you don’t think you need them, you’re safer with them than without them. 

None of your precautions will matter if you do not pay attention to your body or take it seriously if you’re feeling pain.

 

Feel like your injury is still not healing? . We’re happy to help.Why not pop in to understand how a sports injury affects your everyday life and the step towards proper healing. If you are experiencing a sports injury, a workplace injury, or been hurt in an accident, call us for a consultation, or book an appointment with us online.