Sports Medicine

Whether you are a professional athlete or a recreational one, if you are into sports you‘ve probably had an injury at some point of time. A sports injury occurs when an individual experiences an injury or damage to part of his or her body during sports, exercise or athletic activities.
Orthopaedic doctors who specialise in treating sports injuries are known as Sports Medicine Specialists.
Our team of doctors at Elite Orthopaedics are highly skilled & experienced in successfully treating all types of sports injuries.

Sports injuries may happen to anyone. But the following individuals are more susceptible:

• Individuals who are out of shape or overweight
• Individuals who do not wear proper protective gear
• Individuals who exercise without warm up & cool down
• Individuals who take part in contact sports that involve collisions or tackling
• Individuals who participate in activities that involve running. pivoting or jumping

Generally sports injuries are a result of:

• Accident
• Impact
• Improper training practices
• Improper use of equipment
• Lack of conditioning
• Insufficient stretching & warm up

It is also important to note that while joints are considered to be most vulnerable to sports injuries, any part of the body may get hurt in the field.

Here are some of the most common body parts that are affected in sports injuries:

Head: Concussion is the most common athletic head injury. It is an injury to the brain caused by a severe blow to the head.

Shoulder: Rotator cuff tear and inflammation are two most common shoulder injuries. In some cases, athletes may also have labral tears.

Elbow: Tendon issues such as tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow are common injuries to the elbow joint.

Wrist: Wrist fractures, often a result of laying from a fall onto an outstretched arm, are the most common injuries in sports

Spine: Lower back muscle strains are the most common spinal injuries in sports. The less common spine problem is the lumbar strain,

Hip & Groin: Groin Strains, labral tears & femoroacetabular impingement are the hip related injuries commonly seen in athletes.

Thigh: A muscle strain, pull or tear may occur in the hamstring, quadriceps & adductor muscles in the thigh.

Knee: Anterior knee pain resulting from irritation to the cartilage on the underside of the kneecap is also a common occurrence in sportspersons.

Ankle: Ankle sprain are by far the most common injury to the ankle joint.

Did you know that while most injury symptoms show up quickly at the injury site, others may appear gradually over the course of few hours or even days?

Typically, when a sportsperson takes a hard fall or rolls an ankle, he or she tends to shake it off & push through the pain. This can lead long term complications. Symptoms of overuse injuries tend to develop over a period of time.

Common sports injury symptoms include:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Stiffness
• Instability
• Weakness
• Tingling sensation
• Redness

Sports injuries are a common occurrence & most athletes do not need to see a specialist for every ache & pain. However, if simple remedies are not improving your pain or if symptoms worsen, you need to see an orthopaedic.

Signs you need to see a doctor:

• Difficulty using the injured part
• ifficulty placing weight on an extremity
• Limited mobility of a joint
• Deformity of the injured area
• Bleeding or skin Injury
• Signs of infection

Treatment depends on the type of injury & its severity. Most injuries heal within days or weeks with rest & simple remedies

For more serious injuries, treatment often includes:

• Immobilisation with a splint or cast
• Injections to reduce pain & inflammation
• Anti-inflammatory medications
• Surgery to repair ligaments or correct fractures

There are many simple ways in which one can prevent sports injuries. These include:

• Avoid sports & activities that involve collisions & tackles
• Mix up your workout routine. Explore a combination of aerobic exercises & resistance exercises along with yoga for flexibility
• Keep yourself hydrated before, during & after exercise
• Learn & use proper technique
• Listen to your body. Stop when you’re tired.
• Always stretch before & after workout
• Wear proper shoes & safety gear