Sport Injuries
Symptoms, Causes and Types

What are the common types of sports injuries?

Injuries from sports activities cover a broad spectrum of conditions, and each type can vary in intensity and recovery time. They can also affect several different parts of the body, including muscles, ligaments, bones, tendons, and joints. Let’s take a closer look at the different parts of our body and the injuries that can occur in each area.

Shoulder:

• Rotator Cuff Tendinitis/ Tear
  • This is a common injury affecting the shoulder, and caused by repetitive overhead motions, or a constant need to reach upward, such as basketball or swimming. It is a gradual process which may lead to the complete detachment of the tendon from the bone (complete full thickness tear), when proper treatment is delayed.
• Shoulder Impingement
  • Overuse or constant repetitive movements may cause shoulder impingement, where a tendon may rub against nearby tissue or bones in your arm. This condition can lead to rotator cuff tendonitis.
• Shoulder Dislocation
  • A dislocated shoulder is where the upper arm bone is detached from the cup shaped socket. As the shoulder is flexible with the ability to move in several different directions, this injury is common. It can also be commonly seen in contact sports such as rugby and hockey. This is usually caused by falls or an extreme force twisting the shoulder joint.

Elbow:

• Tennis Elbow
  • Despite its name, tennis elbow does not only affect tennis players. It is caused by repetitive overuse of your wrist and elbow, as well as repeated gripping and squeezing an object. Often called 'mouse elbow', it arises from long hours at non-ergonomic workstations, leading to wrist muscle contraction and pain in the outer elbow. As the muscle in your tendons weaken, it will have signs of wear and tear, causing inflammation and pain.
• Golfer’s Elbow
  • While Tennis Elbow affects the outer part of the elbow, Golfer’s Elbow affects the inner part of it. This
    condition is not only limited to golfers as anyone who constantly squeezes their fingers and uses their wrist, has a risk of developing it. Activities that require constant twisting and throwing, such as yard work and repetitive use of a keyboard and mouse can cause this condition too.
• Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injury
  • This is an inner elbow injury which is also known as a basketball pitcher’s injury. The Ulnar Collateral Ligament is a band of tendon that keeps your elbow stable when you reach your arms up and perform actions such as throwing or pitching. Ulnar Collateral Impingement can either be caused by repetitive movement or a falling on your outstretched arm.
• Little League Elbow
  • Little League elbow refers to injuries sustained by a young athlete to their elbow’s tendons, ligaments, and/or bones. Constantly performing fast and powerful motions such as throwing a ball in basketball and softball can put stress on the bones and muscles of the elbow, specifically on the inner side where a growth plate is still developing.

Ankle:

• Ankle Sprain
  • Athletes who are involved in sports that involve quick and sudden changes of directions have a higher risk of developing ankle sprain. This condition is caused when the ligaments around the ankle are stretched or torn, due to it being twisted or turned in an unnatural way. Ankle sprains are also graded based on their severity, with mild sprains (Grade 1) involve only slight stretching and pain, while severe sprains (Grade 3)involve complete tearing of the ligaments.
• Achilles Tendonitis
  • The Achilles Tendon is a thick band of tissue that connects your calf muscles to the heel bone, and plays a
    key role when it comes to movements like running and jumping. When an individual engages in a sport or activity that involves repetitive movements, sudden strain, or unexpected changes in intensity, the achilles tendon can become strained from overuse, leading to inflammation and tears.

Knee:

• Patellar Tendinosis
  • Patellar Tendinosis is also known as the jumper’s knee, and happens when the patellar tendon which connects the kneecap bone to the tibia becomes inflamed. This condition can often be seen in individuals who frequently participate in activities that require repeated jumping, running, or sudden changes in direction. It typically develops over time as the athlete who puts repeated stress on their tendon develops minor tears in them which build up over time.
• Patellar Tendon Tear
  • Often referred to as a ruptured patellar tendon, this injury happens when the tendon that connects your kneecap to the shinbone completely or partially tears. It can occur when you forcefully overextend the knee, or subject it to excessive stress, such as high impact activities or sudden movements.
• Runner’s Knee
  • Runner’s Knee isn’t a specific condition nor does it only affect runners. It describes the dull pain you feel when you have one of the several knee conditions. This condition happens when the kneecap does not move smoothly in its groove when you bend or straighten your knee. It can be caused by several factors, including overuses, improper footwear, trauma, and muscle imbalances.
• Dislocation
  • A dislocated knee may be easily confused with a dislocated kneecap. The former does not only involve the kneecap, but also affects the tibia and femur as they become separated. This condition is generally caused by trauma such as severe twisting or direct contact.

Leg:

• Shin Splints
  • Also known as Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome, shin splints are prevalent in athletes that are involved in high impact activities such as running, jumping, as well as sports that require repetitive leg movements. This condition develops through the overuse of muscles, tendons, and connective tissues which surrounds the shinbone.
• Plantar Fasciitis
  
  
  • This condition primarily affects the plantar fascia, a thick band of tendon that runs along the bottom of the feet, connecting the heel bone to the toes. Not only athletes are susceptible to this, as any individuals who continually put stress on their feet. The repeated strain may lead to small tears and inflammation on the plantar fascia, causing symptoms such as swelling and heel pain.