Statistics from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services show that in 2019 there was an average of 8.6 million sports related injuries.
The most common sports injuries include knee injuries, quadriceps and hamstring sprains and strains, shoulder injuries, golfer’s and tennis elbow, ACL tears and concussion.
It is interesting to note that over 1/3rd of sports injuries occur in the playing field. Sports injuries whether it is minor or major can be debilitating and result in lost participation time. Sports injuries are generally categorised in three main types:
- Acute sports injuries occur when there is a single traumatic event.
- Overuse injuries occur as a result of repetitive use of a particular body part – example: elbow or wrist. Overuse injuries builds up insidiously.
- Chronic injuries occur where there is a build up of the injury and lasts longer than 3 months.
Are sports injuries preventable?
Yes, they are preventable in most cases. Statistics show that if adequate measures are taken a large percentage of the minor sports injuries such as sprains and strains are preventable.
What are sprains and strains?
STRAINS:
Strains occur when a forceful event or contraction causes you to pull and injure a muscle. Commonly occurring strains include low back strain, hamstring and quad strain and rotator cuff strain. The common symptoms associated with strains are: pain, muscle tenderness and swelling. Minor strains can be treated effectively following the R.I.C.E technique (rest, ice, compress and elevate).
SPRAINS:
Sprains occur when a ligament is over stretched and commonly occurs in the knee, shoulder, ankle and elbow.
The symptoms associated with sprains involve pain, swelling, inflammation and can be treated using the R.I.C.E technique (rest, ice, compress and elevate).
Our company (TTB) has a specialised cold cohesive bandage that should be included as an essential item in your first aid kit.
How can we prevent sports injuries?
- Warming up and proper training in preparation for a specific sporting activity is essential. Warm muscles are less likely to sustain sports injuries.
- It is important to wear properly fitted protective gear to decrease the risk of sports injuries.
- Overuse sports injuries are common due to over participation in one type of sport. Varying sporting activities can help prevent overuse sports injuries.
- In recent times the use of kinesiology tapes or sports injury tapes has become very popular in treating minor sports injuries.
The sports tapes or kinesiology tapes are specially engineered to stick directly to your skin and joints unlike a cumbersome body brace. The sports or kinesiology tapes are unique because they provide support to the muscles and joints without affecting the athlete’s mobility.
The sports injury tape can be sports specific and applied to the area that requires more support for that particular activity – example: a tennis player may apply the sports injury or kinesiology tape to the elbow, wrist or forearm before beginning to play or after a sprain or strain has occurred.
The sports injury tape can help reduce the pain and give support to the injured area.
Disclaimer: Kinesiology tapes or sports tapes have not been clinically proven to treat all injuries. Always consult your health care provider first before using sports or kinesiology tapes. It is essential to either get a trained professional to apply the tape or to follow all instructions provided in the box on how to apply the tape yourself. Use at your own risk.
