As the name implies, injuries occurring while playing a sport are called sports injuries. Such damage can also occur during exercise or due to occupational activities involving heavy loads.

Your risk of a sport injury increases if you have not been active lately or play some kind of contact sport like soccer or rugby. Children and young adults are more likely to face such injuries.

In fact, it is reported that around 8.6 million, aged 5-24, bear a sports injury every year in the U.S. Most of them are from the male gender.

Sprain, strain, bruises, tears or fractures involving muscles and bones can happen due to improper form, failure to warm-up, lack of conditioning or faulty technique etc.

A majority of the sports injuries affect the lower body (42%) while the rest (30.3%) affect the upper body. The remaining 16.4% of the injuries are those involving head and neck areas.

The incidence of death due to a sports injury is less unless it involves direct injury to the head.

Let us have a look into the basic types of sports injuries before moving on to individual conditions.

1. Sprain

 Sprains and strains are some of the most common types of sports injuries. Though the two terms are often used interchangeably, they are different.

Ligaments join two bones in a joint. Injury to the ligament, often occurring as overstretching or tears, is called a sprain. For example; a sprained ankle.

• Strain 

Strains involve a muscle or a tendon (part of tissue attaching the muscle to a bone). Overstretching and tears often involve muscles and tendons.

The most common muscle involved in strain is those of the lower back and the hamstring muscles (muscles of the back of the thigh) as well as that of the neck.

• Fracture

 Fractures affect any bone in the body. A break or crack in a bone is termed a fracture. A majority of the fractures are due to forceful impact injury or stress on a bone. There are many types of fracture depending on the type of injury and the extent of damage; 

• Open or compound
• Closed
• Hairline
• Stress
• Oblique
• Transverse
• Spiral
• Avulsion
• Compression, and so on

• Dislocation injury

It involves a joint where two or more bones get dislocated from their position without any fracture. For example; dislocation of the shoulder joint or joints involving the fingers.

• Traumatic brain injury

Contact sports injuries may involve the brain either due to a direct blow to the head. The damage ranges from mild concussion to long-term complications, permanent brain damage, coma or death.

Management and treatment of sports injuries

Though the treatment of sports injury follows specific therapeutic protocols according to the site and the severity of the injury involved, yet there are some basic management remedies to address any sports injury.

These include short-term and long-term therapies that help to prevent any further damage to the body.

Read on to know a detailed insight into the subject.

1. From the time of injury to first week

This is the most crucial time; right from the time of impact of injury to the first twenty-four hours to 48-hours.

The handling of an injury during this time projects the time taken for healing and repair. Better handling; faster healing. Risks for complications is also reduced if an injury is efficiently handled.   

1. RICER

RICE is most effective is applied soon after the injury.

Rest the injured or sore area. Stop or take a break from the activity you are currently doing.

Ice the affected part. Application of cold reduces pain and swelling instantly. Press a cold pack right away as it prevents or minimizes swelling.

Ice pack application should be continued for 10 to 20 minutes, repeated 3 or more times a day.

After two to three days, the swelling usually subsides. At this time, apply heat to the affected area.

It is important not to apply ice or heat directly to the skin. Placing a towel over the cold or heat pack before applying it to the skin helps.

Compression. Compression means wrapping the injured or sore area with an elastic bandage. It helps reduce the swelling any further.

Compression should not be done too tight as it may lead to more swelling. Signs of a tight bandage include numbness, tingling, increased pain, coolness, or swelling in the area below the bandage.

Compression requirements for more than 48-hours may indicate that the injury is complicated. Consult a doctor it happens.

Elevation. Elevate the injured part on pillows. The purpose is to keep the injured part above the level of the heart so as to facilitate blood supply and cut back on swelling.

Referral. If the pain is mild, the patient may do exercises at home to regain full range of motion.  In case the pain becomes severe or worsens, an athletic trainer or physical therapist should be consulted. Such a referral helps prevent complications.

• Medicine

There are many options when it comes to relieving the pain, inflammation and swelling of sports injuries. Your doctor may prescribe the best suited for your condition.

Some categories of medicine include;

• Over-the-counter pain relievers work well with all the other measures. These include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB), naproxen sodium (Aleve) and acetaminophen (Tylenol).
• Medicines that numb the pain like lidocaine injections can relieve the pain in severe cases. Some severe cases may require corticosteroid injections.
• Opioid medications (codeine, morphine, oxycodone, and fentanyl) are prescribed for neck pain not relieved by NSAIDs. They have a strong tendency to cause addiction so proper follow up and monitoring is required. Often a combination medicine with aspirin or acetaminophen are suggested.
• Muscle relaxants as valium are prescribed for short-term management of pain and stiffness.
• Some neuropathic and nerve blocking formulas may also be indicated for severe cases. Antidepressants (paroxetine), anticonvulsants (gabapentin), and nerve blockers (lidocaine) are included.
• Botulinum toxin type A (Botox) and botulinum toxin type B (Myobloc) are some of the latest options that relieve neck pain for long term, at least four months.

Over-the-counter pepper creams and the capsaicin prescription cream called Zostrix also work in mild cases.

• TENS

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation is a passive and non-invasive method of relieving muscle strain.

Using a device, the process involves sending a painless electrical current to specific nerves. The electrical current is mild and generates heat that helps relieve muscle stiffness, improve mobility, and relieve pain.

TENS reduces hyperalgesia; high sensitivity to pain. The therapy may provide instant pain relief or possibly prolonged pain relief. The therapy is popular because it is easy to use, cheap and cost-effective with minimal side effects as compared to pain-relieving medicines.

The mode of action of TENS; it is the release of endorphins and stimulating the pain gate mechanism.

In sports injuries, damage to the irritation of the tissues of the nerves is involved. The nerves become highly sensitive leading to a heightened perception of pain in the affected area.

However, our body contains mechanoreceptors that respond to tactile stimulation. When these nerve fibers are stimulated, it results in calming the pain impulses from the affected area. This process is called the pain gate mechanism.

TENS stimulate these mechanoreceptors by an electrical current administered at a certain frequency (usually 90-130 Hz).

TENS should not be used on the neck area directly specifically the front of the neck.

The use of TENS is also contraindicated with persons with any kind of pacemaker device in their heart or having heart condition with disturbed heart rhythm and rate.

TENS should not be used in people having a history of epilepsy or seizures.

The therapy is contraindicated in people with skin sensitivity, eczema, or allergic issues to the electrodes, gel or adhesive strapping of TENS.

Open wounds and skin infections are other contraindications to TENS use.

• After the first week following injury and beyond

After a week or so of mild sports injuries, some intensive therapies help recuperate and prepare to start the physical activities again.

1. Massage

Sports massage and deep tissue massage are best suited for post-injury refurbish.

Sports massage therapy has become popular among athletes of all levels. It helps them become fit for their sport and achieve cool down after sports exertion. Sports massage also helps repair the body after sports injuries.

What is sports massage? It is the manual manipulation of the muscles aimed at helping people who have lifestyles or hobbies that are physically demanding.

Sports massage takes into account the impact of physical activity on joints, bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments and soft tissue.  A kind of informed therapy plan that assesses an individual’s needs and specific requirements.

Sports activities and intense exercise can be hard and taxing on the body. Sports massage includes the right kind of massage for the subject’s active lifestyle and body.

Sports massage therapy is designed to support and enhance the performance, recovery, and relaxation of athletic people who frequently engage in intense physical activity.

Massage therapy benefits in the following ways when it comes to sports injury:

• Relaxes the muscles
• Improves circulation and lymphatic drainage
• Improves mood and emotional status
• Improves performance and endurance
• Speeds up recovery
• Removes toxin build up like lactic acid
• Improve sleep patterns specifically deep sleep
• Bolsters the musculoskeletal system of the body

Deep tissue massage involves a massage technique to treat musculoskeletal issues that arise as a result of sports injuries.

Done by an expert therapist, deep tissue massage requires the application of sustained pressure via slow yet deep strokes. The target of deep tissue massage is to target the inner muscular and connective tissues.

Deep tissue massage, thereby, helps break up scar tissue that usually forms following an injury. Overall, the technique reduces tension in muscles and tissue.

Deep tissue massage is therapeutic; catering to the physical and psychological benefits of treating chronic muscle pain and stiffness as well as mental relaxation. Palms, fingers, elbows and forearms are employed to apply pressure in deep tissue massage. Since the massage targets the inner layers of muscles it helps treat injuries to muscle and tendon, pain, and stiffness in the major muscle groups and joints.

Kneading and stroking with the pressure of varying intensity is applied to one specific area or the whole body.

Open wound, infection, blood and clotting disorder, bone disease are some contraindications to deep tissue massage as it involves pressure application.

• Therapeutic ultrasound therapy

Therapeutic ultrasound therapy is a tool used by physical and occupational therapists. The technique promotes tissue healing and treats chronic pain.

It is a useful technique to manage sports injures like frozen shoulder or other causes of shoulder and neck pain, tendonitis, ligament injuries, and joint stiffness.

There are two ways to employ ultrasound therapy for sports injuries;

• Deep heating; the technique involves transferring heat to deeper tissue to improve circulation that results in healing and reduced pain. The technique improves mobility and range of motion.
• Cavitation; use of ultrasound energy to shake the deeper tissue. This results in rapid contraction and expansion of the cavities (microscopic gas bubbles or cavitation) in deep tissues surrounding the injured area. The target is to speed up healing.

The treatment does not last more than 5-10 minutes and is applied only once per day. The therapist adjusts the ultrasound penetration depth according to the area and injury at hand.

Ultrasound therapy is generally considered safe practice when done by an experienced therapist. There is a risk of pressure changes as well as excess heat accumulation which can harm the cellular structure at the affected site.

Ultrasound therapy for sports injury is contraindicated in cases of open or infected wounds. People with pacemakers should also avoid it.

• Active Rehabilitation

After the injury has apparently healed, there still needs work to be done. Injuries have an impact on the body muscles and bones etc. Sports enthusiasts are more at risk of facing a recurrence. So stretching and strengthening exercises should be employed as part of the active rehabilitation process.

There are different sets of exercises for every part of the body. They need to be adopted under the guidance of a physiotherapist to get the maximum benefit.

Prevention of sports injury

Sports injuries are unavoidable; almost every athlete falls victim to them. However, the incidence rate and recurrence can certainly be decreased. Here is how;

• Warm up with stretching exercises. 
• Use the proper technique while playing a sport. Learn how to move and how to maintain form and posture. The trainers can tell you ways to avoid injuries according to the sport you play.
• Wear the proper equipment. Proper gear includes proper shoes and proper PPE for the subject sport.
• Do not overdo and know when it is time to quit. Working through the pain is never a good idea. Rest and heal before joining in the game again.
• Ease yourself back into the activity slowly. Do not push your body to its limits.
• Cool down properly. Stretch and ease away.
• Resume activity as you feel better. Exercise helps healing so excessive rest may not be good.