Sports injuries can affect any age group and may be devastating, especially to athletes. It is a common objective for athletic patients to seek quick recovery to return to their sports, many aspiring to recommence their sporting endeavour with the same or better agility after their hiatus. 

Whilst anyone can be affected by an orthopaedic condition, there are specific conditions that athletes are more prone to than others.

Below are some commonly injured body parts and the injuries one may incur: 

Injuries include:

• Snapping Scapula Syndrome
• Shoulder Tendonitis
• Shoulder Instability
• Shoulder Impingement
• Shoulder Bursitis
• Scapular Dyskinesia
• Rotator Cuff Tear
• Pectoralis Major Rupture
• Glenoid Labrum Tear
• Acromioclavicular Joint Injury

Injuries include:

• Golfer’s Elbow 
• Tennis Elbow
• Elbow Dislocation 
• Elbow Ligament Injury 
• Snapping Elbow
• Subluxing Ulnar Nerve 

Injuries include:

• Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury
• Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) Injury 
• Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) Injury
• Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Injury
• Meniscus Injuries
• Iliotibial Band Syndrome
• Plica Syndrome
• Knee Dislocation
• Unstable kneecap/Subluxing Patella
• Cartilage Injury/Chondral Lesions 
• Patella Tendon Rupture

Injuries include:

• Achilles Tendon Rupture
• Recurrent Ankle Sprains/Ankle Instability

Injuries include:

• De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis

Injuries include:

• Stiff Neck
• Whiplash

Injuries include:

• Snapping Hip Syndrome
• Osteitis Pubis
• Hip Pointer
• Hip Labral Injuries

Injuries include:

• Lumbar & Thoracic Spine Fractures

Below are the types of injuries that one may incur from sports activities:

• Fractures: partial or complete breaks that materialise from the high-energy force. Any bone in the body is vulnerable to fractures and this is especially pertinent in high-contact sports. Fractures are often excruciatingly painful and come with visible signs such as broken skin with protruding bone (open fractures), swelling, and bleeding. 
• Dislocations: a painful condition that can be debilitating. Dislocations are best explained as two bones detaching from each other at the joint. Dislocations tend to be accompanied by visible deformation of the body part in which injury is sustained. Dislocations can occur in the shoulder, elbow, and knee.
• Subluxations: partial dislocations which come with more covert symptoms compared to complete dislocations. Apart from pain, one may hear “snaps'' or “crackles”, observe swelling, and feel instability in the affected area. Subluxations can occur in the elbow, and knee. 
• ‍Bursitis: a common overuse sports injury which tends to build up over time among athletes. Bursae aid in smooth movement as they act as cushions and allow ligaments to glide over the bones without friction. Bursitis is an inflammatory condition and can occur at the elbow, knee, shoulders, and hips. 
• ‍Nerve injuries: may manifest as impingement or neuritis (inflammation of nerve), and often is an outcome of delayed medical intervention. Whilst it may not cause severe levels of pain, symptoms such as numbness and tingling could cause discomfort and eventually lead to loss of control of body parts. Nerve injuries may occur in the shoulder, hand, and elbow.
• ‍Muscle injuries: most common forms of injuries in sports and can significantly reduce strength when injured. Examples of muscle injuries include pectoralis major rupture, stiff neck, and whiplash.
• ‍Tendon injuries: tendons are connective tissues attaching bones to muscle. Whilst they are resistant to strains, their inflexible nature leads to various sports-related injuries where improper or incorrect movement is involved. Examples of tendon injuries include tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, and shoulder tendonitis. 
• ‍Ligament injuries: ligaments are connective tissues attaching one bone to the other. Ligaments in general, do not have a good blood supply and this form of sports injury requires medical intervention to ensure recovery. Examples of ligament injuries include elbow ligament injuries, ACL injury, PCL injury, and acromioclavicular joint injury/shoulder separation.
• ‍Slipped discs: slipped discs tend to occur at the lower back and neck. It manifests as a “radiating” pain and one may feel discomfort throughout the body. Slipped discs can swiftly result in sensory loss and require prompt treatment to minimise damage. 

However, these are some symptoms signalling sports injuries that you should look out for:

• Pain 
• Tingling and numbness 
• Discolouration either as bruising or redness  
• Tenderness at the affected area 
• Swelling 
• Joints feeling “locked” or buckling away
• Clumsiness in movement 
• Weakness in joint 
• Difficulty conducting specific movements like walking up the stairs or turning a doorknob
• Gradual decrease in performance (such as running speed) 
• Sounds like “pop”, “snaps”, and “crackle” during movements 

• Physical examination and medical history: inform your orthopaedist (link to about us) of the potential activities that may have led to an injury. Physically the area of injury will be examined and several motion tests will be conducted to review the injury. Some key information athletes should reveal are:

1. Type of sports
2. Position in team 
3. Duration of athletic endeavours 
4. When you were aware of symptoms
5. Prior injury 

• Imaging tests: magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) would be required to provide a detailed view of most injuries and may help identify any tears or other damage. An x-ray and computed tomography scan (CT-scan) may be conducted to help identify any fractures or bone damage in joints. Athletes too, are prone to arthritis, so x-rays would be ordered if your orthopedist has suspicion of arthritic injuries. 

• Diagnostic arthroscopy: arthroscopy involves inserting a small camera into the injured joint to visualise the affected joint structure as well as assess the extent of the injury. Arthroscopy is also conducted when conditions are evasive or suspicion of injuries of surrounding muscle, tissues, or ligaments are present. 

Examples of treatments include: 

• Oral medication: oral medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and analgesics are prescribed to reduce inflammation and manage pain. If infections are present, you may also be prescribed antibiotics.‍
• Immobilisation and rest: complete immobilisation is frequently the best first measure to provide healing to the injured area. Where conditions are less severe, you may be advised to take a break from sports but allowed to resume your usual life routine.‍
• Crutches, braces, and casts: you may be advised to use crutches, braces, or casts to immobilise specific sites of injury.‍
• Physiotherapy: physiotherapy for athletes varies as often it does just involve recovery and strengthening but also specific strategies for you to return to sports without deterred performance. Speak with your orthopaedist about your goals and concerns regarding your performance to ensure collaborative work in recovery.‍
• Surgery: common treatment favoured by athletes as it often statistically favours speedier recovery. There are diverse surgical procedures depending on the type of injury sustained. Where diagnostic arthroscopy is involved, often surgery is performed right after when type of injury is established.