A Quick Guide on the Most Common Sports Injuries

Playing sports on a regular basis you’ll often find yourself pushing your body to its limits. Whether you’re playing a contact sport or working out by yourself, you’re opening yourself up to the risk of becoming injured playing a sport.

A whopping 90% of college athletes report they have been injured whilst playing. Broken bones, torn muscles, and even head injuries are all a possibility.

Today we’re going to be taking a look at some of the most common sports injuries there are. We’ll also look at how they’re treated. Read on for a complete rundown of all the most common athletic injuries now.

1. ACL Tear

ACL stands for anterior cruciate ligament and it’s a muscle in your knee. It connects the thigh to the shinbone. It’s a muscle that all athletes live in fear of tearing.

The way you can tear your ACL is by making sudden movements like stopping or changing directions. Landing with a hard impact can also strain or tear your ACL.

If you hear a popping sound followed by pain and swelling in your knee, this is likely an ACL tear. There are surgical and nonsurgical treatments to treat an ACL tear. Most people will recover in six to nine months.

2. Shin Splints

Shin splints are common in sports where there’s a lot of running involved.  They feel like shooting pain down the front of your leg. They can sometimes occur due to a stress fracture in your shin bone.

If your shin splints aren’t severe, you’ll be able to get rid of them by resting and applying ice and stretching. If they’re more serious, you might need to see a physical therapist. You can learn more here.

3. Concussion

A concussion is a brain injury caused by a strong impact on the head. If you’re playing a contact sport (especially football or soccer) then getting a concussion is a real possibility. Concussions can also occur when skiing, biking, or playing hockey.

Some common symptoms of concussions include dizziness, nausea, and confusion. Concussions can be mild or more severe so they need to be looked at right away and monitored closely.

4. Rotator Cuff Injury

Your rotator cuff is made up of a group of muscles and tendons around your shoulder. This kind of injury is more common in people who practice sports like baseball, tennis, and weight-lifting.

It can happen due to repetitive strain, but can also stem from a single incident. Depending on how serious this injury is, it can heal by itself. If it’s more serious sports rehab or even surgery might be necessary.

The Most Common Sports Injuries

When you’re playing sports, you do increase your chance of injury. That’s why it’s important to take all necessary precautions and act responsibly. If you do become injured, you should seek help immediately.

We hope this list of common sports injuries has been informative and will help you in the case that you do become injured. For more useful advice and information, check out the rest of the content we’ve got on offer.