4 Sports Injuries and What You Can Do to Prevent Them

 

There are many benefits of playing sports: as well as keeping you physically fit through regular exercise, it is a proven mood booster and stress reliever and can teach you important skills such as teamwork that you can implement into other areas of your life. However, as playing sports is a physically demanding activity, you can sustain certain painful injuries, some of which may become chronic. To help protect yourself, here are four sports injuries and what you can do to prevent them.

 1. Cartilage Damage

Cartilage is a tough, flexible tissue that covers the joints, acting as a shock absorber and enabling the bones to slide over each other. It can become damaged due to sudden injury or gradual wear and tear, such as regular lengthy bike rides or uncushioned falls whileplaying contact sports. Severe cartilage damage might require the removal of loose pieces of cartilage from the joint to encourage new growth, or perhaps even joint replacement, in addition to physiotherapy  on the affected area. To help prevent cartilage damage, wear support, such as a knee brace and protective pads if playing a contact sport like rugby.  

 

2. Tennis Elbow

What is tennis elbow? This is a condition that occurs due to repeated overuse of the muscles near the elbow joint – for instance, swinging a tennis racket – causing pain and inflammation around the elbow. It can be supported with a Bearhug elbow compression support sleeve during games. It can be treated by resting your arm and avoiding any activities that bring on the condition. More severe instances of tennis elbow can be targeted with painkillers, physiotherapy on the elbow, and occasionally steroidal injections. However, what can you do to prevent tennis elbow without giving up playing tennis entirely? Gently stretch your arm muscles before a game to make sure your muscles are properly warmed up. 

 

3. Head Injuries

If you play a contact sport, such as rugby, football, or boxing, you need to be particularly mindful of head injuries. Symptoms of sever head injuries include vomiting, blurred vision, and slurred speech. Seek medical advice immediately if you sustain a head injury – though it might feel minor, you may in fact be suffering from a concussion. To help prevent head injuries, it is essential that you and your teammates practice safe play and do not attempt risky moves. Furthermore, wear a protective helmet or head covering. 

 

4. Achilles’ Tendon Rupture

An Achilles tendon rupture is a tear of the tendon that connects your calf muscle to your heel bone. It is particularly prevalent in sports that involve you pushing off strongly from your foot, such as running or soccer. It can take a long time to fully recover from an Achilles tendon rupture and regain your previous level of fitness, so prevention is key. Always carry out gentle stretches before exercising to ensure that your muscles are properly warmed up before an exercise session. 

 

Preventing an injury or stopping it from becoming worse is crucial if you want to continue playing your beloved sport, so bear in mind the above tips.  

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