Sports Injuries: Types, Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention

Sports injuries are pretty common, no matter how experienced you are. According to a survey, in 2020, 9% of the population was injured while practicing sports. Any physical activity carries some risk, whether sprains, strains, or serious fractures. 

It’s not about scaring you and even less about stopping you from exercising. But taking care of yourself before practicing sport is essential to minimize these risks. A number of sports injuries are common when doing any activity, and you need to know how to avoid them.

What are the most common sports injuries, to which parts of the body, and how can they be avoided? Below, you will find the answers to these essential questions regarding sports injuries.

Why do I have a sports injury?

There are two main categories of sports trauma:

• Acute injuries, which occur suddenly and require urgent treatment. Most often, these are sprains, fractures or muscle injuries (tear, rupture)
• Pathologies of gradual onset are linked to poorly executed sporting action or excessive training. Tendinitis and tendinopathy, which gradually develop due to overwork, are among the most common ailments in this category.

There are many mechanisms that can cause sports injuries. We frequently find:

• Overwork is often linked to a sudden increase in the intensity or frequency of training.
• Inadequate gestures or postures are linked to a need for more knowledge of the sport practiced. This problem, which is a common cause of tendinitis, is typical of beginner athletes who need more mastery of the techniques. To avoid it, it is advisable to take lessons!
• A fall, shock or other sudden trauma. Torsion injuries, common in certain disciplines, are a common cause of ankle and knee injuries.
• Repetitive movements are a source of micro-trauma applied to a limb or a joint: this can correspond to a gesture (for example, with a tennis racket or a golf club) but also to environmental constraints, as does running on hard ground.

In addition to these external triggers, each athlete may be affected by intrinsic factors that promote injuries:

• Anatomical characteristics or malformations: hollow feet, bowed legs, X-shaped knees, etc.
• Bad habits in terms of sports hygiene: inappropriate or insufficient warm-up, fatigue, lack of physical preparation, insufficient hydration, poor diet, etc.

5 Most Common Sports Injuries

Sprain (Joint Injury)

Sprains are another common joint sports injury (and not just in sports!), which affects another structure: the ligaments. This injury is of traumatic origin: it is very often caused by a false movement, a twisting movement of a joint or even by a fall.

Ankle sprains and knee sprains are common. They occur particularly in stop-and-go sports, which involve sudden changes of direction. Basketball, soccer or winter sports present a high risk factor.

There are three grades of sprain, which each correspond to a degree of severity:

• Grade 1: mild sprain, stretched ligaments
• Grade 2: moderate sprain, partial ligament tear
• Grade 3: severe sprain, complete tear of ligaments

Sprain symptoms include:

• Localized pain
• Edema/swelling
• Redness
• Difficulty moving your joint (depending on the severity of the sprain)

Muscle Strain (Muscle Injury)

Muscle strain is muscle pain characterized by damage to the muscle fibers of the muscle used. It can be caused by different factors: too much or unusual training, practicing a new activity or even fatigue caused by too high a training load.

Muscle strain produces instant pain upon injury to the injured area. It may be accompanied by a feeling of heat and swelling.

All muscles can be affected by this muscle pain, but the lower limbs are particularly affected. We can note the hamstrings, the quadriceps or the hip adductors, or the calves.

Tendonitis (Muscle Injury)

Tendonitis is a well-known injury among athletes. Affecting muscle tendons, tendinitis can affect any joint. In sports, elbow tendonitis (tennis elbow or golfer elbow), wrist tendonitis , Achilles tendonitis and knee tendinitis are common.

Elbow tendonitis and wrist tendinitis are particularly associated with racket sports, such as tennis, badminton or golf.

Tendonitis occurs when the stress-adaptive capacity of the tendon, a band of connective tissue, is exceeded. Characterized by recent inflammation of this structure, this condition is closely linked to overuse or overuse of a joint. When the supposed inflammatory phase has passed, the tendinitis takes the name of tendinopathy.

Ultimately, tendinitis can more or less disrupt an athlete’s daily life and prevent them from practicing their sport. Indeed, mobility and range of motion can be affected.

Fatigue or Stress Fracture (Bone injury)

The fatigue or stress fracture is an injury characterized by micro-lesions of the bone. It results from repeated stress/overtraining/hyper-demand on the bone as part of sports practice. To suffer a stress fracture, you don’t need to be a seasoned athlete: it can affect any athlete!

Several factors can cause it:

• Muscle fatigue
• Repetitive activities linked to overtraining
• A sudden increase in training load or intensity
• Excess weight

Bruises (Any parts of the body)

Bruises often pop up after a bump, fall, or collision. They happen when the tissues under the skin get squished, but the skin itself doesn’t break. Bruises can show up anywhere on the body, from muscles to bones. 

Common spots include elbows, knees, shoulders, and ribs. Sometimes, internal organs like the liver, lungs, brain, or eyes (if hit by something like a bullet) can get bruised, too.

There are mild bruises and more serious ones. Serious ones can make the tissues swell, creating what’s called a hematoma, where blood leaks into the tissues. This happens when small blood vessels burst from a hard hit. 

Bruises hurt, especially when you move or put weight on the area. They usually heal in a couple of weeks, but rib bruises can stick around for months and be very painful.

Symptoms of 5 Most Common Sports Injuries 

Sprain (Joint Injury)

• Mild Sprain:
  • Immediate pain that can subside quickly but return as throbbing after a few hours.
  • Moderate swelling in the joint.
• Moderate Sprain:
  • More intense pain compared to mild sprain.
  • Swelling occurs rapidly and bruising may develop within hours.
• Severe Sprain:
  • Persistent pain that may be constant.
  • Immediate and significant swelling.
  • Bruising appears quickly.

Muscle strain (Muscle Injury)

• Key Symptoms of a Muscle Strain:
  • Sudden pain that intensifies during muscle contraction.
  • Swelling and bruising in the affected area.
  • Loss of strength and reduced range of motion.
  • The sensation of pain is described as feeling “stabbed.
  • Initial injury causes significant inflammation and swelling.

Tendonitis (Muscle Injury)

• Key Symptoms of Tendonitis:
  • Pain at the site of the tendon and surrounding area, worsening with movement.
  • Stiff joints or difficulty in joint movement.
  • Sensation of cracking or popping when moving.
  • Swelling is often accompanied by skin discoloration ranging from red to purple or darker than natural skin tone.
  • Gradual or sudden, severe pain, especially with calcium deposits present.
  • Calcium deposits manifest as firm, white to yellow bumps on the skin, potentially causing itching.

Fatigue or Stress Fracture (Bone injury)

• Key Symptoms of Fatigue or Stress Fracture:
  • Pain that begins and intensifies during physical activity.
  • Pain persists even after stopping the activity.
  • Pain becomes more pronounced during rest.
  • Chronic fatigue, sleepiness, or overall lack of energy.
  • Tenderness, even with light touch, around the affected bone.
  • Swelling around the area.

Bruises (Any parts of the body)

• Key Symptoms of Bruise:
  • Pain or tenderness when you touch the bruise.
  • Skin changes color, ranging from red to purple, black, brown, or yellow.
  • Swelling or a raised bump on the skin, known as a hematoma.

Treatment for a Sports Injury

Not all injuries require the same type of treatment; the diagnosis will determine the most appropriate treatment. Some benign sports pain, such as cramps and aches, resolve spontaneously and may require medical treatment.

Most traumas require urgent treatment in the field, which is based on the GREC protocol, namely:

• Ice
• Rest
• Elevation
• Compression

Applying ice provides immediate pain relief; rest is essential to avoid aggravating the injury; and finally, elevating and compressing the injured limb helps combat edema.

In addition to regular ice application, antibiotic treatment is often necessary to relieve pain in the acute phase; Doctors usually prescribe painkillers or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories.

Some injuries require orthopedic treatment, using a splint or orthosis. These devices help stabilize the injured area during the rest period.

The use of surgery is reserved for certain particular cases:

• Serious injuries
• Chronic pathologies that are resistant to first-line treatments
• Top athletes need to return to the field quickly

How to Prevent Sports Injuries?

No athlete is spared from injuries, but certain physical activities are riskier than others. Thus, wheeled vehicle accidents constitute nearly 20% of sports accidents, three-quarters of which concern cycling. However, most injuries occur during team sports such as basketball or football, which are popular. But how to prevent them?

Here are some tips to prevent sports injuries:

• Always start with a proper warm-up routine.
• Ensure you have the right gear and equipment for your sport.
• Take time to learn and practice the correct techniques for your sport.
• Avoid overexertion by gradually increasing the intensity and duration of your workouts or training sessions.
• Incorporate a variety of exercises and activities into your routine.
• Pay attention to any signs of pain, discomfort, or fatigue, and take breaks.
• Maintain proper hydration and nutrition.
• Allow your body adequate time to rest and recover between workouts or competitions.
• Include strength and flexibility exercises.
• Schedule regular check-ups with a healthcare professional to address any underlying issues.

Diagnosis of a sports injury

The diagnosis of a sports injury always begins with a clinical examination carried out by the doctor or sports medicine doctor. Tests can be carried out to precisely identify the lesion or assess its severity. Questioning the patient allows, if necessary, to find out more about the context in which the pain appears, the movements that cause it, and any other element useful for the diagnosis.

Certain injuries make imaging tests essential, especially if an operation must be performed: most often, these are X-rays, ultrasounds, or MRIs.

If you think you have a sports injury or are unsure, contact Integrum Urgent Care for prompt treatment. We are here to help.