1. KNEE INJURY
Knee injuries make up over half of reported athletic injuries. One in four orthopedic procedures are related to the knee. Many common knee injuries include torn ligaments and cartilage deterioration, but most general and non-specific knee pain is grouped into something called runner’s knee. Runner’s knee refers to a wide range of knee pain, but it mostly refers to overuse and irritation. This can cause inflammation and pain in the cartilage located directly behind the kneecap. Although called runner’s knee, runners are of course not the only athletes who have to worry about the condition. Any exercise or sport that has a great deal of running can lead to this type of pain, including football, soccer, cardio and aerobics, tennis, etc.
Treatment can be highly effective for this injury. Proper warm up and stretching is often the best means of prevention. Building muscles in the legs, such as the quadriceps and hamstrings can also prevent harm by easing tension on the joint. If an injury occurs it is vital to rest for a few days. Apply a combination of ice and heat, and slowly ease back into exercise.
2. SHOULDER INJURY
One out of every five sports related injuries occur in the shoulder. A cause for the frequency of these specific strains is that the shoulder is a big, complicated machine. There are a lot of moving parts – literally. The clavicle, acromion, and scapula are all places of possible injury when the surrounding muscles and tendons strain, pull or tear. It’s easier to hurt because there’s more to hurt. Again, the leading cause of damage to this area is overuse and improper warm ups.
The most effective treatment of this area is slowly building the muscular strength surrounding the shoulder joint. Weight training, stretching and proper warm ups can help in prevention and recovery. Gradually increasing intensity and use is .
3. SPRAINS
Any sport that involves jumping or high impact aerobics has a very high risk of sprain, the most common of which occurs in the ankle. A sprain occurs when the ligament is stretched beyond its limits. Not to be confused with a strain, which is when a similar injury occurs in the muscle. Sprains are organized into three degrees, the most intense of which is the third degree, or a complete tear in the ligament. Many times a severe sprain can feel like a fracture in the bone because the pain can be so intense, but an x-ray can easily rule this out.
Strengthening the joints with weight training can be the most effective way to prevent a sprain. If injury occurs, icing, elevation and anti-inflammatories can help in pain management. It is also important to slowly move the joint as soon as it is safe to keep consistent blood flow and reduce swelling.
4. PULLED MUSCLES
Pulled muscles are probably the most frequent sports injury, and are often treated by an orthopedist. We are made of muscle, so the possibility of injury is very high. The most common culprit for this injury is muscle fatigue and inflexibility. Severe pulls can cause bruising and severe pain. The most common pulls occur in the hamstring and calf.
Stretching is very important to maintain proper muscle health. If injury does occur resting, anti-inflammatories and small, gentle stretches can help repair the pull. As the muscle heals, exercise may commence again, but it is important to start slow and regularly rest to prevent the injury from getting worse.
Contact the Beverly Hills Sports Medicine Expert
If you have any of these symptoms, or experience any kind of injury it is important that you seek medical attention. Each person and injury is different, thus treatment may be different for everyone. If you have any questions about a sports injury or would like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Sonu Ahluwalia, call 310-659-2910 today.