Most common sports injuries

Introduction to sports injuries

People do not have to be actively involved in sports in order to suffer from some type of sports injury, even though people who are very active or are professional athletes are more likely to suffer from these problems.

It is important to be aware of these problems, because most of these injuries are very common and can occur to almost everyone. Also, these injuries need to be treated immediately so that they do not get worse.

Here are some of the most common sports injuries that affect people on a regular basis.

ACL sprain

The ACL is a ligament that stabilizes the knee and it can burst when a person twists their knee and puts it in an awkward position.

The best way to treat it is to keep the knee immobilized and to follow the RICE technique of applying rest, ice, compression and elevation in order to heal the injury.

In order to decrease the chances of this injury occurring, people should get their leg muscles strong, especially the hamstring and quadriceps, which are the muscles that make up the thighs.

Ankle sprain

There are also important ligaments located in the ankle that can often be stretched too far, which will cause a sprain.

When a person has injured the ligaments in the ankle, the ankle will swell considerably and it will be very tender with a lot of throbbing pain being experienced.

When the ankle is sprained, it is important to stay off of it for at least four days in order to the swelling to die down. The ankle should be elevated whenever possible and anti-inflammatory medications should be taken to get rid of the swelling and pain as well.

In order to prevent such injuries, it is important to wear shoes that protect and keep the ankles secure during athletic activities. Balance is also crucial if a person wants to decrease the risk of such an injury.

Groin pull

When a person pulls their groin, this means that the inner thigh muscle has been strained or injured. This is the muscle that runs from the pelvis to the knee.

When people suffer from this injury, they will feel pain when stretching the hip joint and there could be some swelling in the groin area as well, along with pain and a loss of strength in this muscle.

The muscle needs to be rested and ice should be applied to help with the swelling.

In order to prevent the injury, it is important to stretch the muscles in this area and get them warm before performing any type of strenuous physical activity.