While playing sports, you are engaging your body in intense physical activity that requires plenty of rough and quick movements. This makes you more susceptible to injuries. It is no wonder that many athletes are often met with all kinds of major and minor injuries that require physiotherapy treatment.
Below, we discuss the most common sports injuries that sports players are likely to get.
- Tennis or golf elbow
Elbow injuries are so common that they constitute roughly 7 percent of all sports injuries. Tennis elbow or golf elbow is caused due to repetitive use of the elbow, which causes small tears in the ligaments.
The best way to heal tennis or golf elbow is by getting adequate rest. In major injuries, you may require physiotherapy as well as administration of drugs. If you wish to prevent elbow injury, forearm strengthening exercises using physiotherapy is the best approach.
- Concussion
A concussion is an injury that is caused to the brain due to trauma to the head. For example, a blow to the head or a fall shocks the brain, causing a concussion. Common concussion symptoms can includeheadache, confusion, nausea and/or vomiting, dizziness, sensitivity to light, slurred or slow speech and delayed response to questions.
Concussions are serious injuries that should not be taken lightly. An athlete who experiences a concussion should approach a physician or a certified athletic trainer with experience treating concussions.
- Sciatica
Sciatica is a common sports injurywhich results in lower back pain that goes all the way down to the legs. It is most often causeddue to improper stretching but it may also be common among runners whose leg is a little longer than the other.
Other types of lower back pain common among athletes are bulging discs and back spasms.
- ACL tear or strain
The anterior cruciate ligament or ACL is one of the majorligaments in the knee that helps in stabilisation. An ACL tear or strain is most commonly a result of slowing down and trying to changeor cut your directions. Some of the most common symptoms of ACL tear or strain include pain, discomfort, or instability while walking or turning corners.
A slight ACL strain or tear requires only rest and some heat and ice to heal, as the scar tissue helps in healing theligament and aid in the stabilisation of the knee. For more serious injuries, physiotherapy or surgery may be required for a full recovery without complications.
- Hip Flexor strain
This injury is most common among athletes who engage in sports that require sudden upward movements and changes in direction, such as football, hockey, soccer or martial arts. The hip flexor is a group of muscles used for moving the legs and knee upwards and an injury occurs as a result of overstretching in most cases. You are more susceptible to hip flexor strain if you don’t warm up or have weak or stiff muscles.
Common symptoms include spasms, pain, bruising and swelling around the hip and leg areas. A physiotherapistcan recommend hip-strengthening exercises to help prevent such injuries or to help you in your recovery. If the pain still persists even after two weeks, it is recommended that you see a doctor to see if you have a torn hip flexor, and not just a strain.
- Back injuries
Since the back and spinal column are engaged in one way or another with almost every sport, they are among the most common sports injuries.Over time, the stress oftenresults in inflammation of the back musclesand this can injure the discs, leading to lower and upper back pain. A sudden trauma to the back can also cause back injuries.
Depending on the type of injury, your treatment may be just resting for a couple of days, or you may have to go for physiotherapy. In serious cases, a surgery may even be required.
If you have suffered from a sports injury, it is important that you receive the right treatment so you can recover as quickly as possible. Professional indemnity insurance physiotherapy Australia covers physiotherapists from legal costs and claims in case they are accused of damages. If you are looking to avail a professional indemnity insurance, BizCover helps you choose the best option for you.