The Most Common Sports Injuries (and How We Can Help)
Are you a “weekend warrior?”
Maybe you just like to play a pickup game of basketball with your friends, or perhaps you’re a part of the local tennis league.
No matter the intensity of your playing, anyone is susceptible to a sports injury.
The Centers for Disease Control report that there are 8.6 million sports injuries annually in the United States, with most of these occurring on some type of athletic field, in a sports facility or at a playground.
When you’re injured, it’s vital that you schedule an appointment with a doctor who specializes in sports medicine. That’s one reason that we’re pleased to offer the services of a sports medicine doctor near you in Cary.
What Is Sports Medicine?
This facet of medicine focuses on preventing and treating injuries that are the result of sports or exercise. Doctors who specialize in this area, like our physicians in Cary, also concentrate on how to prevent injuries. We’ll give you advice and pointers to be sure that you are taking all precautions to minimize your chance of having an accident or injury.
What Are the Different Types of Sports Injuries?
Some of the most common types of injuries fall into these categories:
- Sprains – This occurs when the ligaments are torn or overstretched. Ligaments connect your bones to other bones and your bones to cartilage. Typically, you’re more likely to experience sprains in your knee, wrist or ankle.
- Strains – This happens when you tear or overstretch muscles or tendons. Tendons connect your bones and muscles. There are different kinds of strains such as:
- Tennis elbow
- Golfer’s (or baseball) elbow
- Lumbar strain (lower back injury)
- Jumper’s knee
- Runner’s knee
- Fractures – Most fractures involve the arms or legs.
- Contusions (bruises)
- Dislocations
- Swollen muscles
- Rotator cuff injuries
What Are The Most Common Sports Injuries?
Some of the most painful sports injuries are:
Compound Fractures
These are especially painful if they occur in a weight-bearing part of your body, like the bones in your leg (such as the tibia or the femur).
Ankle Sprains
These are very common, and because the ankle bears a lot of weight, any fall or misstep that damages the ligaments results in a painful condition. Recovery can take weeks, and most are unable to place weight on the ankle for several days following the injury.
Dislocations
A dislocation occurs when bones are forced out of their regular position, immobilizing the joint. You’ll frequently hear of dislocated shoulders and fingers—the most common types of dislocations.
Torn ACL
ACL stands for anterior cruciate ligament, and a torn ACL is a very common knee injury. You’ll see it often in basketball, football and soccer—any sport that demands extensive running, pivoting and jumping. Activities like this can put you at greater risk for an ACL tear.
The tear damages the ligaments that are in your knee joint, where they are responsible for controlling the back and forth motion of the knee and stabilizing it. Those who have an ACL injury report hearing a distinctive “pop” when the ligament tears.
The injury doesn’t always require surgery, and effective treatment depends upon the extent of the damage.
Back Injuries
Back injuries are most often seen in athletes that need to twist and turn in order to perform. This places them at risk for vertebral cracks or stress fractures. You’ll see these injuries in activities such as:
- Gymnastics
- Cheerleading
- Diving
- Volleyball
- Golf
Sprains, strains and other issues also make back injuries particularly challenging.
What Sport Has the Most Injuries?
Many are surprised to learn that basketball typically has more injuries than any other popular sport.
However, football, soccer and baseball are not far behind. These activities can result in problems such as:
- Hamstring strains
- Shin splints
- ACL tears
- Groin pulls
- Concussions
What Sports Injuries Are Treated at Cary Medical Group?
We treat and evaluate a wide variety of sports-related injuries and even provide evaluation of non-surgical orthopedic / joint problems.
Some of the conditions we treat include but are not limited to:
- ACL tears
- Shin splints
- Tennis elbow
- Sprains
- Strains
- Dislocations
- Torn rotator cuffs
- Muscle injuries
Cary Medical Group Has Been a Partner in Your Care for More Than 25 Years
We want to do more than treat you when you’re injured—we want you to have the tools and knowledge you need to prevent injuries from happening. Our board-certified sports medicine physician, Dr. Garett Franklin will work closely with you to determine the best course of care.
Contact us for an appointment today.
For more than 25 years, Cary Medical Group has served as the Triangle area’s premier internal medicine provider. We tailor our treatments to provide the finest personalized health care available for each stage of your adult life. Contact us to schedule an appointment.
