Sports injuries are common during physical activity, such as exercise or playing a sport. Certain individuals are at increased risk if they:
- Aren’t active on a regular basis
- Don’t warm up properly before exercise
- Play contact sports, such as soccer, football, and basketball
- Are older
- Are children
- Ignore smaller injuries
- Are overweight
Types of Sports Injuries
- Symptoms and complications of sports injuries will vary, depending on the type of injury.Sprains. Caused by overstretching or tearing the ligaments, which are pieces of tissue that connect two bones to one another in a joint.Strains. Caused by overstretching or tearing muscles or tendons, which are thick, fibrous cords of tissue that connect bone to muscle.Knee injuries. Could range from an overstretch to a tear in the muscles or tissues in the knee; interferes with how the knee joint moves.Swollen muscles. Typically a natural reaction to an injury; may feel painful and weak.Achilles tendon rupture. Occurs in the thin, powerful tendon at the back of the ankle and may cause sudden, severe pain and difficulty walking.
Fractures. Also referred to as broken bones.
Dislocations. Occurs when a bone is forced out of its socket; may feel painful and lead to swelling and weakness.
Rotator cuff injury. Characterized by a tear in the four pieces of muscle that work together to form the rotator cuff, which keeps the shoulder mobile.
Symptoms that require emergency care include:
- Severe swelling and pain
- Visible lumps, bumps, or other deformities
- Popping or crunching sounds when using the joint
- Weakness or inability when putting weight on the joint
- Instability
- Difficulty breathing
- Dizziness
- Fever
To diagnose the injury, doctors will need to perform a physical examination, review the patient’s medical history, and see results of imaging scans, such as X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans.
Treatment Options For Sports Injuries
Patients with sports injuries may need a treatment plan that incorporates pain management techniques, joint and soft tissue injections, and occupational medicine. The right treatment will depend on the patient’s injury and level of pain.
Treatment for sports injuries may require pain management techniques, such as cold and heat therapy, gentle exercise, music therapy, therapeutic massage, physical therapy, biofeedback, mind-body techniques, and occupational therapy to help manage their symptoms. Each patient will receive personalized recommendations from their doctor for managing pain.
Westcare Clinics also offers joint and soft tissue injections to help minimize pain from a sports injury. These injections may include piriformis injection, epidural injections (interlaminar and transforaminal), sacroiliac joint injections, and trigger point injections.
Westcare Clinics offers occupational medicine for patients who need to continue working while their injury heals. Our team of healthcare practitioners is also available to help employers adapt the workplace and worker responsibilities according to the physical limitations of an employee undergoing treatment.
Advanced Treatment
Patients experiencing severe symptoms may need further treatment for sports injuries. Advanced treatment options include chiropractic adjustment, surgery, acupuncture, physical therapy, and other forms of rehabilitation. The Westcare Clinics team is happy to answer any questions patients may have about obtaining advanced treatment for sports injuries.
