Athlete Health and Sports Injuries

Sports injuries are caused by personal reasons such as weak muscle and bone structure, previous injuries or chronic diseases, or physical reasons such as bad weather conditions, breaking sports rules or starting sports without training. There are two types of sports injuries, acute and chronic. An injury that occurs suddenly, such as a sprained ankle, is known as an acute injury.

Chronic injuries, on the other hand, occur due to continuous and overuse of muscle groups or joints. Poor technique and structural abnormalities may also contribute to the development of chronic injuries. It is important to investigate any sports injury medically because the injury may have been more severe than the person thought.

Diagnosing Sports Injuries

After sports injuries, the doctor wants to know about the patient's medical history. To find out, it asks questions about how the person was injured, the first aid given after the injury, and more. X-rays, MRI, CT scans, and ultrasound confirm his diagnosis.

When to See a Doctor in Sports Injuries?

Most sports injuries cause immediate pain or discomfort. A doctor should be consulted in cases of severe pain and swelling, deformations on the skin, noise when using the joint, and inability to put weight on the joint.

Also, difficulty in breathing, dizziness and fever can be symptoms of different problems. These symptoms should not be ignored either. Serious sports injuries may require physical therapy and surgery.

Since a child's skeleton is not fully developed, his bones are weaker than that of an adult. For this reason, extra precautions should be taken in children's sports injuries. What looks like a minor injury can actually be a serious fracture.

Types of Sports Injury

Different sports injuries present different symptoms and complications. Any injury that prevents the movement of the knee joint is often encountered. Knee muscles and ligaments may rupture. Overstretching or tearing the ligaments results in a sprain. Ligaments are pieces of tissue that connect two bones in a joint.

The Achilles tendon is a thin and strong tendon located at the back of the ankle. This tendon can rupture during sports. When experienced, a sudden and severe pain occurs, the heel of the person touches the ground and he cannot walk. Surgical and conservative methods can be used in its treatment.

The rotator cuff is the structure that provides balanced operation of the shoulder and allows the shoulder to move in all directions. Trauma such as a fall or dislocation of the shoulder can cause a rotator cuff tear. Shoulder arthroscopy is generally used as a surgical procedure in its treatment.

Sports Injuries Treatment

The treatment of sports injuries depends on the type and severity of the injury. What might be thought of as a simple sprain may actually be a broken bone.

Physiotherapy can help rehabilitate the injured area and may include exercises to increase strength and flexibility and restore mobility. Returning to sports after injury is up to the doctor's or physical therapist's evaluation.

Returning to sports before the injury has healed properly will only cause further damage and delay recovery. The biggest risk factor for soft tissue injury is previous injuries. During the recovery period, sports can be continued by choosing exercise forms that do not affect the injured part of the body.

Preventing Sports Injuries

The best way to prevent sports injury is to warm up with the right technique before sports. Cold muscles are not resistant to excessive stretching and are prone to tearing. Warm muscles are more flexible. They can absorb sudden and rapid movements, making injury less likely. Similarly, cooling down after sports should not be forgotten. It often involves re-doing warm-ups.

It is very important to move with the right technique during sports or activity. Different types of exercises require different postures. For example, in some sports, bending the knees at the right time can prevent damage to the spine or hips. Not wearing equipment suitable for sports can also increase the risk of sports injuries.

Before resuming sports after a sports injury, the person should be sure that he or she has fully recovered. When returning to sports after recovery, reaching that point in the process with training instead of continuing with the left intensity reduces the risk of re-injury.