Sports Injuries
Sports injuries are a common affliction among athletes. Those who enjoy outdoor activities like running and hiking are also at risk of injury. Sports injuries range from bruises to fractures and may lead to chronic conditions.
Symptoms of Sports Injuries
Acute sports injury symptoms are unmistakable. Acute injuries happen unexpectedly and cause immediate pain. Swelling and limited movement often follow. Examples of acute injuries include sprains, dislocations, and fractures.
Chronic injuries happen when a joint or limb experiences continued stress. They don’t present symptoms immediately but may become more painful over time. Shin splints and stress fractures are common chronic injuries.
Causes of Sports Injuries
The primary causes of sports injuries are accidents and impacts like sudden falls and collisions during high-energy activities. Poor training practices like overtraining and lack of rest can also lead to injury.
Sometimes, ill-fitting or wrong sports gear can hurt the joints, while a lack of warmup before running or hiking can cause strains.
Diagnosing Sports Injuries
Diagnosing a sports injury starts with checking the patient’s medical history and a physical examination. Doctors may need X-rays or an MRI to rule out or confirm broken bones or to determine the severity of the injury.
Sports Injury Treatment
Treatment starts as soon as a diagnosis is made. Sports injury treatment is based on the severity of the injury. Most of the time, R.I.C.E is required (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation). In some cases, rehabilitation and physical therapy may be required. Painkillers can also help relieve discomfort as the injury heals.
Preventing Sports Injuries
Sports injuries happen unexpectedly, but it’s often easier to prevent than to treat. Preventing sports injuries includes proper warmups before exercise, using the right equipment, and cooling down. It also includes wearing the appropriate shoes for different sports activities. Maintaining overall health can also reduce the risk of a sports injury.
Visit UF Health Central Emergency & Urgent Care for Sports Injury Treatment
UF Health Central Emergency & Urgent Care is here to meet your medical care needs by providing affordable pricing and quality care. As part of Intuitive Health’s innovative hybrid model ER and urgent care system, patients are only billed for the level of care they receive from professional and highly trained medical staff.
Our Emergency & Urgent Care Centers are open 24/7 to treat sports injuries.
Sources:
https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/sports-injuries
https://www.healthline.com/health/sports-injuries
https://www.verywellhealth.com/sports-injuries-4013926
https://medbroadcast.com/condition/getcondition/sports-injuries
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/sports-injuries
https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=85&contentid=P00935
