Sports Medicine is a branch of medicine that deals with physical fitness and the treatment and prevention of injuries related to sports and exercise. It includes the understanding of sports performance along with recommendations for training, nutritionand sporting performance enhancement.
Sports injuries are often ignored. It is however, essential to visit a sports medicine specialist and undergo physical therapy to regain full fitness after any sports injury. Irrespective of which sport you play, here are some common sports injuries you may be vulnerable to, and which you ought to get checked:
Muscle Strain
Muscle strain includes damage to a muscle or its tendons (tissue attaching a muscle to a bone). The damage may even be a tear of the muscle fibers and the tendons. It can also damage small blood vessels, causing local bleeding, bruising and pain. When you see symptoms like swelling, bruising and redness, or experience pain during movement, consult asports medicine physician right away. Meanwhile, use ice to reduce the swelling, elevate the injured area and avoid putting any kind of strain on it.
Ligament Tear
Ligaments are strained when the joint is stressed beyond its normal range, causing it to tear away from the bone. Common causes of a ligament injury include twisting or landing awkwardly. The most common torn ligaments are knee ligaments and ankle ligaments. The symptoms include a sudden jab of pain, swelling, joint instability and impaired function. At home, you must rest and elevate the joint, apply ice, and use gentle compression with an elastic bandage.
Shoulder Dislocation
The shoulder joint is inherently unstable and is the most often dislocated joint in the body. Dislocations often occur during falls on an outstretched hand, where the shoulder unnaturally rotates away from the body. The muscles that surround the shoulder joint tend to go into spasm, making any movements very painful. In such a case, you must rush to an Emergency Room immediately. It is best to hold the arm slightly away from the body, and support its weight with the other hand.
Tennis Elbow
Tennis elbow is a condition caused by the overuse of the arm, forearm, and hand muscles. It is caused by an abrupt or subtle injury of the muscle area around the outside of the elbow. The symptoms can be easily felt, in the form of increasing pain while shaking hands, squeezing objects or moving the wrist with force. It is of utmost importance to consult a doctor and get started on pain killers. Meanwhile, ice works wonders to reduce inflammation.
Hamstring Pull
Hamstring strainsattackall kinds of athletes – be it runners, footballers, or basketball players. In a hamstring strain, the muscles behind the thigh get overloaded. The muscles might even start to tear. Hamstring strainsare more likely during activities that involve a lot of running and jumping or sudden stopping and starting. A hamstring pull can be felt by a sudden and severe pain during exercise, along with a snapping feeling. It may also include a pain in the back of the thigh and lower buttock when walking, straightening the leg, or bending over. These injuries heal slowly on their own, but it a must to visit a physical therapist and get started with stretching and strengthening exercises.
We are proud to announce the opening of our holistic Sports Medicine Centre’s Outreach Clinic in South Mumbai. Our team of experts specializes in athletic injuries of the bones, joints, muscles, cartilage and ligaments, with a special focus on shoulder, knee, hip, foot, wrist and ankle conditions. We work with patients through their consultation and treatment, keeping their current state, desired outcomes and performance needs in mind, and ensuring post-treatment rehabilitation. Our aim is to help patients remain active and to get them back to the level of athletic performance they desire.
Comprising of experienced physiotherapists, bio-mechanists, nutritionists and sports scientists, our Sports Medicine team has treated the most reputed Indian sports persons, ranging from national team cricketers to badminton players. Book an appointment now and enhance your sporting abilities!
