Getting injured is a common part of playing sports. It can happen no matter how careful you are, and some injuries can be rather severe. You are at higher risk of becoming injured if you fail to stretch or warm up before the game or if you are someone who is not regularly active. Contact sports like football and hockey have the highest risk of sports injuries compared to the others.

What are the types of sports injuries?

There are several types of sports injuries such as:

• Strains – Caused by the overstretching or tearing of tendons or muscles
• Sprains – Caused by the overstretching or tearing of ligaments
• Swollen muscles – Characterized by tender and inflamed muscles
• Knee injuries – Includes overstretched or torn tissues or muscles in or around the knee
• Dislocations – Occurs when a bone in your body becomes dislocated, leading to weakness, swelling and pain
• Fractures – Occurs when there is a break in your bones
• Rotator cuff injury – Occurs when there is a tear in the muscles in the rotator cuff, affecting the movement of the shoulder
• Achilles tendon rupture – Occurs when the Achilles tendon in your ankle is ruptured or broken

How are sports injuries treated?

Mild sports injuries are often treated using the RICE method – rest, ice, compression and elevation. This method helps reduce the swelling in the affected area and prevent the onset of additional bruising and pain. More serious sports injuries such as broken bones may require surgical intervention followed by rehabilitation.

Sports injury rehabilitation involves the restoration of the affected area to its optimal form with maximum function. The goal of rehab is to limit the extent of the injury along with

reducing or reversing functional loss and impairment. With rehab, you will be able to correct or entirely eliminate the chances of a disability. Your doctor will determine the best rehabilitation plan depending on your health, medical history and if you are keen on returning to the same sport later.