To see how to prevent and treat these common sports injuries — and to learn when it’s time to look further than your medicine cabinet to treat sports injuries. Continue reading.
These are some specific tips for treating each of the most common sports injuries:
- Ankle sprain
Ankle sprain typically happens when the foot turns inward. Most athletes have experienced a sprained ankle.
This turning stretches or tears the ligaments on the outside of the ankle, which are very weak.
What you can do: With an ankle sprain, it’s crucial to exercise to prevent loss of flexibility and strength — and re-injury. You can ask your doctor or physical therapist to assist you know what kinds of exercise you should do.
When to see a doctor: It’s great to note where the sprain has occurred. “A ‘high ankle sprain’ is slower to heal and should probably be seen by a doctor to make sure the bones in the lower leg did not separate,” says R. Marvin Royster, MD. Royster is assistant team physician for the Atlanta Braves and an orthopedic surgeon with Peachtree Orthopedic Clinic in Atlanta. One way to recognize a high ankle sprain is that this sprain usually leads to tenderness above the ankle.
- Groin pull
What it is: Pushing off in a side-to-side motion leads to strain of the inner thigh muscles, or groin. “Hockey, soccer, football, and baseball are common sports with groin injuries,” says Royster.
What you can do: Compression, ice, and rest will heal most groin injuries. Returning to full activity too quickly can increase a groin pull or turn it into a long-term issues.
When to see a doctor: “Any groin pull that has great swelling should be seen early by a physician,” Royster says.
- Hamstring strain
What it is: Three muscles in the back of the thigh form the hamstring. The hamstring can be over-stretched by movements such as hurdling — kicking the leg out sharply when running. Falling forward while waterskiing is another common cause of hamstring strains.
What you can do: “Hamstring injuries are slow to heal because of the constant stress applied to the injured tissue from walking,” says Royster. “Complete healing can take six to 12 months.” Re-injuries are common because it’s hard for many guys to stay inactive for that long.
- Shin splints
What they are: Pains down the front of the lower legs are commonly called “shin splints.” They are mostly occur by running — especially when starting a more strenuous training program like long runs on paved roads.
What you can do: Rest, ice, and over-the-counter pain medicine are the mainstays of treatment.
When to see a doctor: The pain of shin splints is rarely an actual stress fracture — a small break in the shin bone. But you should see your doctor if the pain persists, even with rest. Stress fractures require prolonged rest, commonly a month or more to heal.
- Knee injury: ACL tear
What it is: The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) holds the leg bone to the knee. Sudden “cuts” or stops or getting hit from the side can strain or tear the ACL. An absolute tear can make the dreaded “pop” sound.
When to see a doctor: Always, if you suspect an ACL injury. ACL tears are potentially the most severe of the common sports injuries. “A completely torn ACL will usually require surgery in individuals who wish to remain physically active,” says Royster.
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