Sports injuries are common and extremely frustrating. Especially when it means you have to miss time from your sport. Today on the blog we are going through some of the more common ailments and how you can avoid them.

Strains

Caused by overuse and/or repetitive movement of an area, strains can be a painful indicator that you have moved in an improper way. The best way to prevent strain on your muscles and joints is to ensure that you warm up properly. Dynamic stretching and proper form are imperative to keeping strains at bay.

Sprains

Although similar in sound, sprains are a much more serious injury than strains. Sprains are the result of stretched or damaged ligaments in a joint. They typically cause swelling and pain but do not result in dislocation. Sprains vary in intensity and pain depending on the area and severity.

Knee Injuries

In sports, knee injuries seem to be a dime a dozen. This is likely due to the roll of knees in an athletic capacity. Often the bearer of most impact-driven sports, especially those that include running and jumping, knees are often the first to be injured. The impact of these repetitive motions, over time, can result in chronic pain, weakened ligaments and in severe cases, replacement. Try these exercises to keep your knees strong and safe.

Dental Injuries

This may seem out of place in this list, but there are over 600,000 ER visits for dental injuries every year! Many sports include objects flying through the air that can easily come in contact with your face and mouth. Even activities that don’t include a ball often involve quick movements, with trip and fall incidents looming large.

Shin Splints

We’ve chatted about shin splints before on the blog. They are a common injury in athletes involved in running-driven sports. Often they are a result of increased training regimens or overuse. If treated with rest and ice, they can resolve over several days or weeks. Without proper treatment, they can continue for months or even years. Here are a few tips you can follow to help prevent shin splints.

Fractures

Breaks are common in the sporting world. Cracks or clean breaks in the bone are called fractures and they are often very painful. Depending on the location and severity, healing time can take several weeks to several months.

Thankfully, you can avoid most injuries with the following strategies:

Make wise choices about the sports or activities you participate in. If you know you are prone to certain type of injuries, pick a sport that isn’t known for them. If you don’t have the proper fitness level to participate properly in a certain sport, sit it out and build up your endurance or strength until you do.

Make sure to always warm up! Dynamic stretching routines are a safe and effective way to ensure your body is ready to sustain impact safely. You should aim to spend at least 10-20 minutes warming up.

Protect yourself. Each sport has specific gear designed to keep you safe. Make sure you have all of the pieces in place, including helmets, mouth guards and any sport-specific padding required.