John Hopkins reports that most pediatric sport injuries occur during sports, while at the playground or are bicycle-related. With most area school districts releasing students for the year, it’s an important time to refresh your knowledge of the different kind of sports injuries and how to avoid injury altogether.
The human body has an amazing support system called the musculoskeletal system. The musculoskeletal system is made up of bones, joints, ligaments, cartilage and more that work together to provide stability, balance, movement, flexibility and protection.
- Bones help to provide storage for calcium and phosphorus. They have fat reserves and produce red and white blood cells.
- One bone is joined to another bone through joints, for example, the knee joint. Joints are made up of ligaments, or bands of fibrous tissue that connect these two bones. Joints have cartilage and fluid for cushioning and smooth gliding of one bone over the other.
- Muscles cover all the bones in our body and are connected to the bones by tendons to facilitate in movement.
Of the many sports injuries, some common injuries discussed in this article are:
Sprains, Strains, Tendons, Fractures, Dislocations
Now Imagine a tear occurring in one of those bands of tissue holding the joint together. It would naturally cause pain and swelling around that joint called a sprain. Sudden twisting movements can also cause sprains.
If the tendon that attaches the muscle to the bone or the muscle itself becomes torn, this causes a strain. Muscle strains cause pain and affect movement.
During a call, a break or crack can occur in the bone called a fracture.
Sometimes bones can be displaced out of the joint they are in causing a dislocation.
Prevention of sports injuries include wearing the proper clothes, shoes, equipment, protective gear like a helmet to protect from severe impact to the brain causing a concussion, proper stretching exercises before and after playing sports.
Treatment options can be considered such as: Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation (RICE). Alternative options, though not always necessary, can include pain medication, injections, splints, crutches, physical therapy and surgery. It is important to have a consult for proper diagnosis.
If you have symptoms consistent with a sports injury, self-schedule an appointment with Advanced Orthopedics and Sports Medicine today.