Sports orthopedics and traumatology focuses not only on treating injuries, but also on preventing them.
What are sports injuries?Sports injuries are those sustained while practicing a sport or exercising. Sports orthopedics and traumatology aims to care for people who practice a sport regularly, placing strong emphasis on injury prevention and preparing the musculoskeletal system.
What are the most common sports injuries in adults?The type of injury can vary depending on the sport or exercise, but the most frequent ones include:
- Tennis elbow
- Concussion
- Tear or sprain of the medial collateral ligament
- Hip, elbow, shoulder, knee, ankle, or heel pain
- Ankle sprain
- Frozen shoulder
- Cruciate ligament injury
- Tendon injuries of the foot
- Achilles tendon rupture
- Cubital or tarsal tunnel syndrome
- Achilles, elbow, shoulder, or ankle tendinitis
- Rotator cuff injury
Depending on the type of sports injury, the orthopedist or traumatologist will determine the appropriate treatment.
How can sports injuries be prevented?Sports orthopedics and traumatology aims to treat all musculoskeletal injuries that arise from playing sports, as well as to identify conditions early to prevent them from progressing into an injury, or even to prevent a sports injury from happening in the first place.
Sports injuries in childrenIn recent decades, there has been an increase in children’s and adolescents’ participation in sports activities, further encouraged by the growth of formal and semi-formal leagues and teams. However, this increased participation has also led to a rise in injuries.
What increases the risk of injury?
- The bigger the athlete, the higher the likelihood of injury.
- Bigger athletes tend to train longer and play at a more intense level.
- The more formal the league, the more injuries tend to be reported and tracked.
What types of injuries can occur?
- Overuse injuries. Microtrauma to bone, muscle, or tendon that has been subjected to repetitive stress without enough time to heal normally, meaning there is daily overload on ligaments, bones, tissues, etc., which leads to a chronic injury.
- Stages:
- Pain after activity.
- Pain during activity, without limiting performance.
- Pain during activity that limits performance.
- Continuous pain, even at rest.
- Overtraining. There are no clear guidelines for how much exercise is healthy versus how much can cause injury, but having a well-structured, supervised training plan is essential.
Recommendations:
- The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends limiting growing athletes to a single sport, with a maximum of five training sessions per week. Variety is fine, but the main activity (the one trained at a high level) should be limited.
- Athletes shouldn’t do the same activity 12 months a year, they should rest from their main sport for at least two or three months per year and do something different.
- Progressing training too quickly can cause overuse injuries. Increases in training time, number of repetitions, or total distance should not exceed 10% per week.
- Avoid burnout. Take breaks and make sure training is fun, so children and adolescents enjoy it. Sports should always be playful, with the ultimate goal of helping young athletes grow into adults who stay active in sports.
Remember that overtraining and injuries can disrupt an active sports life for both adults and children. That’s why it’s important to have guidance from coaches, orthopedists, and rehabilitation specialists, and, in cases of burnout, from psychology and psychiatry professionals.
At ABC Medical Center’s Orthopedics and Trauma Center, we can provide you with specialized care. Contact us!
