May 25, 2016 —

Common Sports Injuries

Orthopedic Sports Medicine physician, Dr. Nicholas Weiss, shares tips on common sports injuries.

Summer is here, and with it, the urge to jump on a bike or throw the ball around. Exercise is beneficial to your health, but can cause injuries too. Taking care of your joints and muscles when you’re in action will help you stay active for a long time to come.

Common sports injuries we see at include:

  • Ankle sprains
  • Shin splints
  • Knee injuries (tendonitis, bursitis, ACL tears, meniscus injury)
  • Hip pain
  • Shoulder injuries (tendonitis, bursitis, rotator cuff injury, instability)
  • Tennis elbow
  • Lower back strains

How can you prevent sports injuries?

  • Make sure to rest between training/exercise sessions. Doing so allows your tissues to repair themselves.
  • Stretch and warm up. Prepare your body slowly for your upcoming workout.
  • Listen to your body, a.k.a. pay attention if you feel pain.

If you do sustain an injury, follow the rest, ice, compression and elevation (RICE) treatment. Resting the injured area both prevents further damage to the site and allows for healing. Using an ice pack or bag of ice wrapped in a towel stops swelling, and compression (such as using an ACE bandage) further limits swelling and gives support to the injured area. Elevation reduces blood flow to the area, using the force of gravity to reduce swelling.

If you have severe pain or pain that persists for two weeks or more, it’s time to see a doctor. Other signs you need to see a doctor include persistent swelling or inability to move or use the part of the body that’s injured.