A Gateway to a Better You After a Sports Injury

Sports injuries are commonly caused by overuse, direct impact, or the application of force that is greater than the body part can structurally withstand. An injury that happens suddenly, such as a sprained ankle caused by an awkward footfall, is known as an acute injury.

Injuries in sport happen as a result of external force from outside your body or internal force from inside your body. 

Treatment for this injuries depends on the type and severity of the injury. Always see your doctor if pain persists after a couple of days. What you may think is a straight forward sprain may actually be a fractured bone.Listed out are some of the common type of injuries in sports

• Knee Ligament Injuries

The knee joint is held together by tough bands of connective tissue called ligaments. Sudden twists or excessive force on the knee joint, commonly caused by repeated jumping or coming to a rapid halt while running, can stretch ligaments beyond their capacity. Torn ligaments can bleed into the knee and typically cause swelling, pain and joint laxity. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) situated in the centre of the joint is the knee ligament commonly injured. A ruptured ACL does not heal by itself and may require reconstructive surgery.

• Knee Meniscal Injuries

The menisci are cartilage tissue which act like shock absorbers in the knee joint. A meniscus can be torn, commonly after a forceful twisting injury to the knee. Symptoms include pain, swelling, and locking of the knee. Some heal by themselves, but an operation to fix, trim or remove the torn meniscus may be advised.

Initial treatment for a torn meniscus focuses on decreasing pain and swelling in the knee. Rest and anti-inflammatory medications, such as aspirin, can help decrease these symptoms. You may need to use crutches until you can walk without a limp.

If the knee keeps locking up and can't be straightened out, surgery may be recommended as soon as reasonably possible to remove the torn part that is getting caught in the knee joint. But even a less severely torn meniscus may not heal on its own. If symptoms continue after non surgical treatment, surgery will probably be suggested to either remove or repair the torn portion of the meniscus.

Surgeons use an arthroscope during surgery for an injured meniscus. Small incisions are made in the knee to allow the insertion of the camera into the joint.

• Knee Cartilage Damage

Cartilage damage is a relatively common type of injury. The majority of cases involve the knee joint. Symptoms include:

• swelling
• joint pain
• stiffness
• a decreased range of movement in the affected joint

Most knee procedures are performed arthroscopically.During arthroscopy, your surgeon makes three small, puncture incisions around your joint using an arthroscope, a small device with a camera that provides a clear view of the inside of the knee. With improvements to arthroscopes and higher resolution cameras, the procedure has become extremely effective for both the diagnosis and treatment of knee problems.

• Patellar Dislocation

Patellar (kneecap) dislocations occur with significant regularity, especially in younger athletes. Most of the dislocations occur laterally (outside). When these occur, they are associated with significant pain and swelling. Following a patellar dislocation, the first step must be to relocate the patella into the trochlear groove. This often happens spontaneously as the individual extends the knee either while still on the field of play or in an emergency room or training room as the knee is extended for examination. Occasionally relocation of the patella occurs spontaneously before examination and its occurrence must be inferred by finding related problems. 

To Know About Cost Effective Packages Available for Healing Your Sports Injuries