Every athlete knows that playing a sport comes with the risk of injury, especially if you’re overexerting yourself or not conditioning your body as much as you should. While each sport presents its own set of risks, there are some common injuries that can affect essentially any athlete — from a professional to a weekend warrior.
In order to keep yourself safe and healthy, here are some of the most common sports injuries you should be aware of.
What are Common Sports Injuries?
ACL Tear
A strain or tear of your ACL, one of the major stabilizing ligaments in your knee, commonly occurs in athletes who quickly pivot or slow down during fast movements, such as basketball, football, hockey, or lacrosse players.
In less severe cases, an ACL injury can be treated using a brace and/or physical therapy. However, when the injury is more severe, surgery may be required.
Tennis Elbow
This injury often occurs when the tendons in a person’s forearm become inflamed, causing pain and a lack of grip. Typically, tennis elbow can be treated using a combination of ice, rest, anti-inflammatory medications, and strengthening exercises.
Concussions
Any contact sport, such as football, hockey, or rugby, puts a player at risk for a concussion if they collide with another athlete or take a blow to the head. Athletes should always be examined by a medical professional before continuing to play, and, if deemed unable to continue, allow for plenty of rest and a decrease of physical activities.
Hamstring Strain
An athlete may pull a hamstring if their muscle is too tight and/or they do not properly stretch before and after exercising. Mild strains can often be addressed through icing the injury and gently stretching the muscle. However, if the pain continues for more than two weeks, athletes should seek additional medical treatment to address the strain.
Shin Splints
A common injury in runners and those whose sports include a lot of running, shin splints occur when an athlete increases their mileage too quickly and overexerts themselves. Shin splints are often treated with rest, ice, and stretching.
Sports Injury Treatment in Dallas
If you’re experiencing a sports injury, the severity of the problem will dictate whether you’ll be better served in an urgent care clinic or emergency room. Advance ER offers treatment for both emergency and non-emergency sports injuries in Dallas. Contact us today for more information or to schedule an appointment.