Sports Injuries

Sports injuries occur when you damage yourself while playing or training. They can happen to anyone, whether you are a student athlete, professional athlete, or having a casual game in the park with your kids.

Acute sports injuries happen all of a sudden, when a ligament ruptures, a muscle tears, or a joint dislocates as you play. Sports injuries can also develop slowly over time as a result of continual strain and repetitive stress on a part of your body. An example of this is golfer’s elbow or medial epicondylitis, in which the tendons at the top of your forearm suffer many tiny tears. Another common condition is back pain related to improper weight lifting or overloading the spine. When left untreated these can lead to conditions which can prevent you from playing the sport you love.

What are the most common types of sports injuries?

It’s possible to damage almost any part of your body when playing sports or engaging in vigorous physical activity. Some injuries are more common as popular sports involve making similar kinds of movements, such as twists, stretches, and tackles. 

Sports injuries seen most often at Lonestar Medical include:

• Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear
• Achilles tendinitis
• Tendon ruptures
• Ankle sprains
• Neck injuries
• Rotator cuff injuries
• Stress fractures
• Bursitis
• Groin strain
• Hamstring pulls or tears
• Herniated spinal disc
• Meniscal tears
• Patellofemoral pain syndrome
• Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)

How are sports injuries diagnosed?

When you visit Lonestar Medical, your provider must first find out how you sustained your sports injury. As well as talking to you about what happened to cause the pain, your provider carries out a thorough physical exam to help make an initial diagnosis.

To confirm their diagnosis and assess the extent of the damage, your provider might also ask for diagnostic imaging tests like X-rays, CT scans, or an MRI. If they suspect nerve damage, you might also need to undergo electromyography and nerve conduction studies to see how well your nerves work.

How are sports injuries treated?

The treatment you need for your sports injury varies according to the nature of the damage and its severity. Most sports injuries respond well to conservative approaches when treated within a short time after the injury. Time is crucial, so the sooner treatment begins the better the outcome. Treatment for your injury may include:

• Manipulation
• Sports taping
• RICE
• Bracing
• Soft tissue mobilization
• Therapeutic exercises
• Medication prescribed by your primary care physician

With expert care from the team at Lonestar Medical, you should soon be back in action and performing at your best. Call the practice today or book an appointment online.