Exercise is an essential component of living a healthy, active lifestyle – it's beneficial for the lungs, heart, and the muscles, among other things. Ideally, playing sports would only bring good in a perfect world. However, in reality, that is not the case, as people may make erroneous movements or trip and fall. Some other causes of sports injuries may include inadequate warmup, improper use of equipment or complex high-impact movements. As a result, sports injuries are prevalent. In this article, we discuss 5 common types of sports injuries and where you can seek treatment.
1. Strains
A muscle strain is an injury to the muscles and tendons in the body. When playing sports or exercising, the muscles and tendons are working actively to perform the desired movements. Sometimes, these parts may move in ways they should not, or be overstretched in the midst of performing an exercise. This results in the muscles being torn and damaged. Common muscle strains include pulled hamstrings, quadriceps muscle contusion, calf strains and more.
A strain can cause pain and restriction of mobility in the afflicted region. The best way to reduce the risk of developing a muscle strain is to stretch and warm-up before engaging in any form of physical activity. In most cases, minor strains can be successfully treated using the R.I.C.E technique (rest, ice, compression, and elevation). However, if the pain does not subside within a few weeks, it would be best to seek muscle tear treatment in Singapore, as you likely have a severe strain.
2. Sprains
Sprains, on the other hand, are injuries to the ligaments. Ligaments are fibrous connective tissues around the joints in the body. When the ligaments are moved or turned in the wrong way, they can pull, or in worse cases, tear.
Compared to muscle strains, sprains can take longer to heal and be much more painful. Ankle, wrist, and knee sprains are the most common type of sprains among athletes or people who do sports in general.
Practising proper techniques in the sport that you are playing can help to deter sprains. Moreover, for those who have had a history of sprains, it is recommended that you wear a brace or guard to support that joint when exercising.
3. Tennis elbow
Tennis elbow is a type of elbow pain that may result from the overexertion of the forearm muscles. Characterised as the discomfort experienced when the forearm muscles of the outer elbow are strained, the risk factors associated with tennis elbow include the poor athletic posture, the improper use of equipment and more.
Some of the common symptoms of tennis elbow include pain spreading down the arm to the wrists and a weak grip. While home treatments such as cold or warm compresses may temporarily relieve discomfort, it is important to seek professional tennis elbow treatment for a proper diagnosis.
4. Plantar Fasciitis
The plantar fascia is a tough fibrous layer between the foot muscles and the skin. It supports the arch of the foot when moving.
As it contacts the heel bone every step, its origin at the heel bone is a common site of inflammation. Lifestyles and occupations associated with being on your feet constantly may face this problem.
Commons symptoms are pain and tenderness at the site of irritation. In severe cases, the pain may not subside totally with rest.
5. Achilles Tendonitis
The Achilles tendon allows you to point your foot forward, rise on your toes, and push off your foot when you walk. Essentially, you rely on it every time you walk and move your feet.
Achilles Tendonitis occurs when the Achilles tendon becomes inflamed. Runners bear a lot of stress on their tendons and have a higher risk of developing Achilles Tendonitis.
It’s possible that if you overstretch your Achilles tendon, it will rupture partially or entirely. When this happens, you will likely feel intense pain in the back of your lower leg and ankle, making walking challenging.
Seeking treatment
For minor sports injuries that may be readily cured with rest and other home treatments, seeing a doctor may not be essential. However, if symptoms of discomfort and swelling in the wounded region persist after 24 to 48 hours of using the R.I.C.E approach, it would be best to seek professional help at once.
Here at Affinity Pain Clinic, our seasoned and professional physicians are equipped with the expertise to provide the best sports injury treatment in Singapore. We pride ourselves in always putting our patients first and are committed to consistently applying up-to-date, evidence-based therapy for each patient we attend to. Apart from sports injuries, we are also a back pain specialist in Singapore – offering treatment for back pain, neck pain and more.
For further enquiries or to schedule an appointment, feel free to drop us a message at enquire@gastapp.org today.
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