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Sports Injuries in Adults
Who’s at Risk?
There’s no question that sports-related activities are beneficial to adults of all ages —- from college students to grandmothers. In fact, the only disadvantage to an active life-style is the possibility of injury. If physical activity is part of your life-style, or if your activities are limited to weekends and vacations, you may risk pulling muscles, fracturing bones, tearing ligaments or experiencing other injuries of the musculoskeletal system. Common Sports Injuries
There are two broad categories of sports-related injuries —- acute and chronic. Acute injuries occur from a single, well-defined incident, such as dislocating your shoulder during a fall or twisting your ankle while running. Chronic injuries occur from an accumulation of damage to the bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Chronic injuries are generally considered "lifestyle-threatening" —- that is, they inhibit your ability to perform many of your normal activities. Tennis elbow and stress fractures (a fracture caused by repeated stress on the bone) are both examples of chronic injuries. Common sports-related injures include: - Rotator cuff damage. The rotator cuff —- which is comprised of four muscles and their tendons —- surrounds the shoulder, providing strength and stability. This area can become damaged from overuse or from injury.
- Fractures. Sometimes known as "broken bones," fractures can be either acute (occurring from a single incident, such as a fall) or caused by repeated stress on the bone or joint. In either case, a fracture may require care by an orthopedic specialist to minimize further damage and promote proper healing.
- Sprains. A sprain occurs when ligaments, which hold the bone ends together in a joint, become stretched or torn.
- Tendonitis. This occurs when the tendons —- the fibrous cords that connect a muscle to a bone —- become inflamed due to overuse.
Some injuries are serious and require medical attention to prompt proper healing and prevent further damage. Signs that your injury requires care by a physician include: - An obvious change in the appearance of a limb or joint. Instability, excessive swelling and other changes in the way the injured area looks or functions are indications that your injury should be evaluated by a physician as soon as possible.
- A lack of improvement. Symptoms like pain and swelling that seem to get worse, not better, within 24 to 48 hours are signs of a more serious injury, such as a fracture. Also, an inability to put weight on the injured limb or joint within a day or two is an indication that the injury requires medical care.
- Recurrent or persistent symptoms. It’s advisable to seek medical attention if you seem to re-injure the same area frequently or if symptoms —- even mild ones —- persist for more than six weeks.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Sports Injuries
Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and conduct a physical examination of the affected area. An x-ray also may be needed to rule out or confirm the presence of a fracture or other injury to the bone and soft tissues. Treatments for sports injuries may include: - The use of a splint or cast to stabilize the area and promote proper healing.
- An exercise program to help strengthen damaged bones, joints, and soft tissues.
- Limiting or reducing activities until the affected area can heal fully.
- Medications to reduce symptoms such as pain and swelling.
- Arthroscopic surgery to treat some conditions, such as torn cartilage, that affect the joints.
- Surgery as needed to repair damaged bones, ligaments, tendons and muscles.
The Outlook for Injured Athletes
If you experience a sports-related injury, your chances of recovering fully and resuming your activities are increased if you seek prompt medical care, follow the recommended treatment plan closely, and work gradually to rebuild your strength and conditioning.
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