4 Sports-Related Injuries

admin • August 18, 2020

Runner Holding His Shoes — Philadelphia, PA — Advanced Physical Therapy

Whether you're an avid runner, a golfer, or someone who just works out or partakes in sports occasionally, you're at risk for a sports-related injury. Sometimes, the injury may stem from a misstep during your physical activity or from repetitive motions. Some of the most common sports-related injuries include sprains, strains, bursitis, and tendinitis.

1. Sprains

In between your joints, you have tissue that connects two bones together, known as your ligament. A sprain is an injury to a ligament and occurs when you overstretch or tear it. If you sustain a sprain while you exercise, you may experience:

Bruising
Pain
Decrease in mobility

While a minor sprain will heal with proper care, you may need a specialist to surgically repair a more serious sprain.

The most common location of a sprain is in your ankle; however, you may sprain your knee, wrist, thumb, or any other ligament, depending on the type of physical activity you partake in.

2. Strains

Another possible injury you may endure from playing sports is a strain, which is a muscle injury. Also referred to as pulled muscle, a strain occurs when you stretch a muscle beyond its limitations and tear the tissue.

Generally, when you strain a muscle, you may feel pain suddenly. You might have a decrease in your range of motion in that particular muscle. Other possible signs of a strain include:

Bruising
Swelling
Stiffness
Weakness
Spasms in your muscle

You may develop a strain if you overexert your muscle or use it incorrectly during physical activity. Most commonly, people strain the following muscles:

Neck
Hamstring
Shoulder
Back (lower)
Shoulder

However, you may strain any muscle in your body.

The severity of your strain may range from mild to severe. In the more severe cases, your muscle may take months to heal.

In some cases, you may experience a chronic strain, which arises from repetitive motions. Often, people who play tennis or golf experience this type of strain.

3. Tendinitis

You may also develop tendinitis from physical activity, which is a repetitive stress injury that affects a tendon — the cord that connects your muscle to your bone. In particular, you'll likely experience irritation or inflammation in this body part from this injury.

You might experience a dull ache that worsens when you move your muscle or joint near that tendon. You'll also have tenderness at the site or possibly swelling.

Most often, tendinitis affects your elbow, shoulder, or knee. Commonly, tendinitis occurs when you play golf, baseball, or tennis. If you swim or partake in a sport that requires you to jump, you also have an increased risk of tendinitis.

Your risk of this particular sports-related injury increases as you age since your tendons become less flexible over time.

4. Bursitis

In addition, you may suffer from bursitis if you partake in sports or other physical activity. This particular condition happens when a sac near your joints develops inflammation. These sacs have fluid and act like pillows to the tendons, bones, and muscles surrounding your joints.

You develop bursitis from repetitive motions. In fact, this issue is common in baseball pitchers' elbows. Bursitis may also occur in your shoulders, heels, knees, or hips from other sports and activities.

If you develop this condition, the affected joint may feel stiff and look swollen. Sometimes, you experience an achy feeling. If you have pain from bursitis, the discomfort may worsen when you move your joint or press on the area.

In the more serious cases, bursitis may limit the mobility in that joint. You might also have a sharp pain.

If you notice you have any signs of the aforementioned conditions, you want to seek out the expertise of a physical therapist who understands the inner workings of your musculoskeletal system. With proper treatment, you can be back on the court, field, or wherever you partake in physical activity.

Contact Advanced Physical Therapy, serving Philadelphia, PA, and the nearby area, if you sustain a sports-related injury.

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