Learn about the causes of Sports Injuries & find a practitioner in Auckland, Hamilton, Bay of
Plenty, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin to help you overcome Sports Injuries within New
Zealand.
Therapies which may benefit Sports Injuries
Sports injuries result from acute trauma or repetitive stress
associated with athletic activities. They may be caused by improper
stretching, or due to accidental injury during the activity.
Causes of sports injuries
Sport and physical exercise can sometimes cause injuries as a result of
over-stretching, inadequate warm-up preparation, pushing beyond
physical limits, lack of technique or using inadequate equipment.
Sports
injuries can be acute or chronic. Acute injuries typically occur due to
sudden impact or awkward movement. Chronic injuries develop slowly due
to repetitive use of the same joints and muscles.
Common sports injuries include:
- sprains
- strains
- bruises
- cuts
- bone fractures
- blisters
- concussion
- tendonitis
Some injuries are sport specific. The main ones are listed below:
- Athletics
– runners frequently experience muscle sprains to the legs and lower
back. Achilles tendon ruptures, hamstring and calf tendon tears are
also common. Athletes who perform throwing actions (such as
shot-putters) suffer with injuries to the upper half of the body.
Jumping events can result in stress related injuries to the lower limbs.
- Cricket –
damage knee ligaments and cartilage is common among cricketers.
Shoulder and spinal injuries can occur to bowlers while batsmen can
suffer head injuries.
- Gymnastics
– due to contortion of the body, gymnasts are prone to injuries caused
by hyper-extension. Injuries to the spine and lower limbs are also
common due to high-impact landings.
- Racquet sports
– injuries such as tennis elbow are common due to repetitive movements
of the elbow joint. Badminton, tennis and squash players are also prone
to strains of the lower and upper body. Cuts, bruises and fractures can
also occur from falling on hard surfaces.
Symptoms of sport injuries
A sports injury can occur on any part of the body and therefore the
symptoms will vary depending on the type of injury. The common sports
injuries are listed below.
- Ligament sprain
– a ligament is the strong tissue around the joint that connects one
bone to the other. The ligament can be stretched, twisted or torn
resulting in pain, inflammation, bruising and restricted movement.
- Muscle/tendon strains
– muscle fibres can become stretched or torn as can tendons (the narrow
tissue that connects muscle to bone). Symptoms of a strain include
pain, muscle spasm and muscle weakness.
- Tennis elbow
– muscles and tendons in the forearm and elbow joint can be stretched
by overuse resulting in swelling around the outer edge of the elbow,
tenderness and pain.
- Tendonitis –
a common injury caused by straining or tearing the tendon. Symptoms
include inflammation, restricted movement, change in
position/appearance of the affected limb.
- Blisters
– these are fluid filled swellings on the skin caused by friction. The
fluid collects under the skin layer to prevent further damage of the
tissue underneath.
- Shin splints – inflammation and tiny fractures along the bone causes pain, throbbing and tenderness along the inside of the shin.
- Runner's knee –
a common knee injury which develops as the cartilage in the knee wears
away resulting in swelling and pain behind, or to the side of, the knee
cap. Runner's knee can also cause a grating sensation.
- Head injuries –
a sudden blow to the head, particularly common in contact sports, can
cause a loss of consciousness, dizziness, confusion, nausea and
vomiting. Permanent brain damage can occur if blows to the head are
severe or repetitive (such as in boxing).
Diagnosis of sport injuries
Minor sports injuries can be self-diagnosed and treated at home.
However, more serious injuries will require medical intervention. If
the injury is to the head or neck then seek emergency medical attention.
For
injuries to the muscles, tendons and ligaments, you should visit a
doctor as soon as possible to prevent any long-term damage. To diagnose
your injury, you may be referred for diagnostic tests such as X-rays,
MRI/CT scans or ultrasound.
*Source: GoToSee.co.uk
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