If you participate in sports, there’s a good chance you’ve experienced at least one injury. It could have been a broken bone or something less serious like a bruise. All forms of sports injuries can be managed by specialists who specialise in sports medicine.

Continue reading to discover the top 5 sports injuries and the medical approaches used to treat them.

1.   Sprains

Sprains are wounds that result in soft tissue injury. Ankle sprains are the most frequent type of injury. However, the wrist and knee may also be impacted. Due of their constant need to change direction fast, athletes frequently face this ailment.

The RICE procedure is a part of the initial treatment for sprains. RICE translates as:

Rest

For now, refrain from doing anything. It’s advisable to put your game down, sit down, and avoid putting any strain on the injured body part.

Ice

Cold temperatures assist decrease pain and lessen swelling in the injured area. But be sure to keep track of how long you apply the ice. More than 20 minutes of exposure to extremely cold temperatures can harm tissue, perhaps making the injury worse.

Compression

Additionally, compression lessens edoema. But it’s important to keep in mind that the affected area shouldn’t be numb. If you notice swelling surrounding the compression bandage or sock, it’s equally important to alter what you’re using to compress the body area.

Elevation

Elevate the injured area above your heart to improve fluid drainage from it.

Surgery is rarely necessary to treat this disease. Depending on the severity of the injury, healing from sprains might take days to months.

2.   Knee Injuries

Tendons, ligaments, a joint, and muscles make up the knee. In sports, injuries to any component of it are essentially inevitable. The causes and healing times of various knee injuries differ.

The most frequent knee wounds include:

• ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury This injury involves tearing the ACL, the ligament that connects the shinbone to the thigh bone.
• Torn Meniscus The meniscus is part of the knee that absorbs the shock applied on the knees when doing activities, like sports.
• Patellar Tendinitis Tendons are thick muscles that attach muscles to bones. Patellar tendinitis is the inflammation and swelling of the tendon in the patella, occurring if the patellar tendon connecting the kneecap to the shinbone gets injured.

Your sports medicine doctor’s assessment will determine the best course of treatment for any knee injury.

3.   Separated Shoulder

When the ligament connecting the collarbone to the clavicle is torn, usually as a result of collision, you have a separate shoulder. This injury frequently affects athletes that use their shoulders, such as swimmers, football, hockey, and others.

Most occurrences of a separated shoulder can be treated with the RICE technique. Patients with mild cases may make a full recovery days to weeks after treatment. The ligament must be surgically reattached to the bone in cases of more severe shoulder separations.

4.   Fractures

Partial or total breaks in the bone are referred to as fractures. Falls or a blow to the region could be the reason. Additionally, conditions like osteoporosis that weaken your bones might cause fractures.

Open and closed fractures fall into several categories.

Open Fractures

Compound fractures is another name for them. As the name implies, this kind of fracture results in a rupture that opens up the body. In open fractures, the bones protrude from the skin after the break. Surgery is required to reconstruct the bones in these fractures.

Closed Fractures

Simple fractures is another name for them. The skin is unbroken, however there is a broken bone in this condition. Overuse and repetitive use of the bones can lead to fractures in some cases. Athletes frequently experience fractures, particularly those who take part in contact and high-impact sports.

5.   Dislocations

A collision, accident, or direct hit of any kind can cause a joint to become dislocated, or out of place. Dislocations are unpleasant and may leave the victim temporarily immobile until the bones are put back in place.

The following treatments are typically suggested by doctors to treat a dislocation:

• RICE method
• Splints or cast
• Pain medication
• Repositioning to set the joint correctly
• Traction

Surgery may be required for more severe dislocations to realign the bones. Surgery is rarely necessary, although it can be if the trauma that caused the dislocation injured the bones.