If you’re a student athlete, your school experience is a cut above the rest of your colleagues. Just the thought of competing and winning against athletes who are just as good as you gives you an immense sense of accomplishment. Sports teach you patience, discipline, and the ability to get back up after you’ve been pushed down! They also bolster your physical strength and flexibility.
At the same time, though, sports increase the risks of sustaining a sports injury. Every year, 2.6 million children are rushed to the emergency room on account of sports-related injuries. While injuries are part and parcel of the game, they need to be managed well to prevent long-term damage.
Let’s take a look at some of the most common types of sports injuries:
1. Pulled muscle
A pulled muscle usually occurs when you don’t warm up well enough before a game or training. It involves a muscle suddenly being stretched beyond its capacity. The pain you feel is a result of muscle fibers tearing. This type of sports injury is common among runners. In the worst case, you can even sustain a full-fledged muscle tear.
You can always prevent the occurrence of a pulled muscle by stretching your muscles well before and after working out or training. It takes a lot of practice, training, and determination to completely overcome the issue if it’s recurrent, though.
If you experience it in the same spot over and over again, you should try and strengthen the muscles surrounding that area. Some of the most common remedies for pulled muscles are ice packs and massage therapy.
2. Tennis elbow
The effects of elbow injuries go far beyond just the elbow, because the tendons are connected to the rest of the arm, all the way to the wrist. Tennis elbow is a common injury among athletes who overuse their elbows and forearms, such as golfers and tennis and squash players.
This overuse leads to inflammation, with the pain going all the way to the shoulders. Other symptoms of this condition include muscle stiffness and tenderness near the elbow and pain that worsens when you hold an object.
Although the treatment for tennis elbow is fairly simple, if the problem persists, the athlete might be required to take a break from their sport until full recovery takes place.
3. Ankle sprain
While the above two conditions were common among athletes who frequently use their arms, ankle sprains happen as a result of the overuse of the ankle. This includes athletes who need to run and jump a lot.
Common sports that induce this type of injury include soccer, basketball, and hockey. A very prominent symptom of this condition is swollen ankles which may also turn black and blue. The easiest way to treat ankle sprains is by is resting for a few days and practicing simple exercises. The exact therapy, of course, depends on the extent of the muscle tear.
Physical therapy is said to work as an effective remedy for the symptoms of a number of sports injuries. HealthRite in Houston is home to some of the best physical therapists who can treat a number of muscle injuries, without charging an arm. Contact them for further details.
