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Common Sports Injuries
- Posted on
- By Kim Hall
According to WebMD.com, the seven most common sports injuries are ankle sprain, groin pull, hamstring strain, shin splints, torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), patellofemoral syndrome, and tennis elbow (epicondylitis). Strains and sprains make up the majority of injuries. For a brief explanation of each type, read the following paragraphs.
According to WebMD.com, the seven most common sports injuries are ankle sprain, groin pull, hamstring strain, shin splints, torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), patellofemoral syndrome, and tennis elbow (epicondylitis). Strains and sprains make up the majority of injuries. For a brief explanation of each type, read the following paragraphs.
ANKLE SPRAIN
Turning or twisting an ankle in an awkward position can stretch and tear the ligaments that hold the bones together, resulting in a sprained ankle. When this injury occurs, the ankle swells and mobility decreases significantly.
GROIN PULL
Putting too much stress on the muscles in the groin and thigh can cause groin pull; also known as groin strain. Commonly seen in people whose athletic activities involve a lot of running or jumping, movements that are too forceful and sudden injure the muscles, causing a popping or snapping sensation at the time of injury. The main identifying characteristics of groin pull are pain and tenderness inside the thigh.
HAMSTRING STRAIN
This is one of those across-the-board injuries that any active person can experience. Hamstring is a group of four muscles along the back of the thigh that permit people to bend their legs at the knee. Hamstring strain happens when someone overworks one or more of these muscles. Depending on the level of injury, pain can be mild to severe, with severe cases preventing standing or walking, temporarily crippling the sufferer.
SHIN SPLINTS
Achy, swollen, throbbing shins are the symptoms of shin splints. Muscle overuse, stress fractures, flat feet, and weak stabilizing or core muscles are the most likely causes of this condition.
TORN ACL
The ACL helps stabilize the knee joint. Torn ACLs most often happen when a person suddenly shifts direction, especially on a locked knee. At the time of injury, the knee pops followed by swelling and pain. This injury happens to women more than men, and sometimes surgery is necessary to reconstruct the torn ligament.
PATELLOFEMORAL SYNDROME
Pain in the front of the knee is patellofemoral syndrome. Common causes are overuse, patellar tracking disorder, injury, or excess weight. Knee pain while sitting with bent knees is the most common symptom, followed by knee pain while doing any other type of activity that requires knee bending. Knees might also fail unexpectedly and sufferers often feel a catching, grinding, or popping sensation when moving their knee.
TENNIS ELBOW (EPICONDYLITIS)
Overusing the arm, forearm, and hand muscles can cause tennis elbow, and despite the name, it is not limited to tennis players. The injury happens where the muscles and tendons of the forearm attach to the lateral epicondyle (bone) of the elbow. It usually affects the dominant arm. Pain can develop slowly or suddenly, and sufferers feel it acutely when squeezing objects or lifting, opening, and handling items with stabilizing force.
WE CARE ABOUT YOU!
Totally Running and Walking considers sports injury awareness and education a top priority. For more information, join us on April 19, 2016 as Doctor Shah from Foot & Ankle Health Centers, LLC shares her knowledge on Common Ailments Seen in Runners. Also, register for our Good Form Running Clinic with Dr. Symantha Reenders, DPT, scheduled for Thursday, April 28, at 6:30 p.m. at our store.