What is a Sports Injury?
The term sports injuries in its most basic sense refers to any injury which occurs during sport or exercise. The most common causes of sports injuries are a fall or heavy blow, poor training practices or inappropriate training gear and equipment. Some sports injuries can be due to inadequate warming up or stretching before and after exercise or over-exercising beyond your current fitness level. At the Four Health Osteopathy clinic in Cobham we see people with a variety of these types of issues.
Some of the Most Common Types of Sports Injuries
- Sprains and strains of muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints
- Knee injuries
- Achilles tendon injuries
- Rotator cuff shoulder injuries
- Pain along the shin bone (commonly called shin splints)
- Tennis elbow and golfers elbow
- Repetative use injury
- Dislocations and semi-dislocations
Classification of Sports Injuries
Sports injuries can be classified as either traumatic or overuse injuries and divided into acute or chronic. (which refers to the amount of time you have had the injury for. Actue being a few weeks, chronic being over a few months.)
What is an Acute sports injury?
Occur suddenly when playing sports or exercising. Examples of acute sports injuries are strained or torn muscles, ligaments or tendons and bone fractures. Possible signs of an acute injury are:
- Sudden severe pain
- Swelling
- Not being able to place weight on a leg, knee, ankle or foot
- An arm, elbow, wrist, hand or finger that is suddenly very tender
- Not being able to move a joint as normal
- A bone or joint that it is visibly out of place
What is a Chronic sports injury?
These are on-going injuries which may prevent you from playing sports or exercising. The pain can be brought on whilst exercising or build gradually after exercising. Chronic injuries are often niggling intermittent problems which you can put up with but can also stop you from taking part in your chosen activity. Signs of a chronic injury include:
- By definition, chronic injuries have been troubling you for a few months or more
- The pain can be constant or intermittent and can prevent you from exercising
- You may experience a dull ache at rest
- Swelling can be intermittent (especially after exercising)
How can Osteopathy Help?
Our therapists will take a thorough case history and perform a series of physical tests in order to reach an accurate diagnosis for your specific complaint.
Frequently, with chronic and reoccurring sports injuries, we find that another part of the body requires attention to prevent the injury from returning. Faulty equipment, such as poor trainers when running or the wrong grip width on a tennis racket, can contribute to injuries.
Following your assessment you will be given advice on how to maximise your recovery and how to prevent further injury. We will often want to analyse a specific action or technique used, for example your golf swing or the way you perform an exercise in the gym. This can provide us with vital information to help break the cycle of pain you’re suffering with and support your recovery.
Our Approach
- Acurate diagnosis is critical. Physical testing may be used to help this process. Once we understand the issue we can offer the best approach to support your recovery.
- Osteopathic treatment to support your recovery, unload overburdened structures and promote your bodies incredible ability to heal itself.
- Tips on how to adjust your training or technique in your specific sport or exercise.
- Strengthening and rehab exercises.
- Advice on warm up/cool down routines.
- Your osteopath may advise you on whether further tests such as x-rays, MRI scans or blood tests are necessary for more indepth or serious injury.
How Can I Prevent Sports Injuries?
- Always warm up thoroughly before sport or exercise.
- Don’t over do it; know your body’s limits.
- Cool down and stretch properly after sport or exercise.
- Wear shoes that fit properly, are stable and absorb shock well.
- Don’t try to do a week’s worth of exercise in one session.
- Learn to do your sport properly. Get lessons or coaching to help with proper technique.
- Build up your exercise level gradually.
- Strive for a balanced total body workout of cardiovascular, strength training and flexibility exercises.
What to do if I Get Injured?
Stop the activity immediately, never try and play or exercise through the pain as this may cause further damage and possibly prolong your recovery. Often the extent of an injury may not be immediately apparent and may come on over a period of hours or more. It is advisable to call a health professional if…
- The injury causes severe pain, swelling or numbness.
- You can’t put weight on the area.
- A joint feels abnormal, loose or unstable.
- If the symptoms feel like they are worsening or not improving.
- Unusual shape or a deformity.
- Signs of shock such as pale or clammy skin.
Get in Touch
For more information on what an osteopath does, or how any of us at Four Health Osteopathy may be able to help you, please get in touch at info@fourhealth.co.uk or call 07932 022503.
