Although the COVID-19 pandemic is still ongoing, many schools, gyms and other public places have opened their doors for sporting activities. In fact, going outside and participating in these sporting activities and plays helps combat stress and depression. However, participating does come with a risk. Some players end up looking for a way to treat shoulder labral tear in Singapore or other orthopaedic/sports injuries.
Understanding Sports Injuries
Injuries tend to happen often, even if you’re not playing sports. It’s a common misconception that injuries, such as a labral tear, ankle sprain, shin splints, etc., only occur to athletes and players. Nonetheless, it shouldn’t stop us from playing sports since it serves as a vital part of a healthier lifestyle. Sports injuries happen because of many reasons. Even if you’re not playing sports, it doesn’t make us insusceptible to sports injuries. Ageing, underlying conditions, muscle imbalance and fatigue are the most common risk factors in and out of sports.
Lacking gear
For ankle support, a helmet, or knee braces, playing sports requires more than just preparing your body for it. Equipment would go all the way to prevent you from having to look for shoulder labral tear or total hip arthroplasty in Singapore. Thus, players should consider investing in the proper gear before participating. It will help avoid severe ones and minimise the chance of minor injuries.
Improper rehabilitation
When you have sustained an injury, the process or the phase of rehabilitation goes on more than just healing a damaged tissue or structure. Reconditioning (primarily the musculotendinous complex) becomes the next phase after recovery. Proper training, therapy and stimulation are among the necessary actions you’ll need to take, including strengthening the muscles through exercises.
Overuse
Overuse is one of the most common reasons why people experience injuries. Overuse simply means the chronic wearing and tearing of muscles, joints and tendons. It overtrains and causes strains, which can be solved with adequate rest and pause to allow muscles to breathe or recover. Overusing may lead you to cramps, and some people need to look for hip arthritis treatment. Thus, be conscious of the tempo, intensity and style of movement, especially if you’re exercising.
Lack of warm-up
Warm-ups are an essential way to prepare your body for any sporting activities. What warm-up exercises do to our body is raise the temperature of the muscles for better flexibility and increase blood flow—ensuring that it has enough oxygen to perform. So you see, skipping these warm-ups increases your risk of injuries. Without it, movements become stiffer, making you prone to cramps, sprains and other injuries since tissues and muscles aren’t stretched enough. You can even end up with shoulder labral tear or a bone injury.
Common Orthopaedic Sports Injuries You Should Know
Now that we have discussed the most probable causes for sports injuries—let’s look at the most common orthopaedic sports injuries. Learning about them is essential to pinpoint the root cause of pain and where the damage is. It also lets you know what you can do to treat specific problems. The following are the most common orthopaedic sports injuries that you must know:
Hamstring injury
Hamstring injury often happens during exercises, such as running. A hamstring injury occurs when the hamstring (a muscle located at the back of the thigh) is strained and overworked. The most common symptom is sudden pain and inflammation in the back of the thigh, which indicates a possible strain or tear of the hamstring. While the injury treatment isn’t the equivalent to getting a total hip arthroplasty, resting and strengthening your leg are among the most common treatments you can do.
Shoulder injuries
There are various types of injuries one can experience in the shoulder area due to overusing and straining of cartilage. Others experience shoulder labral tear injury (which is induced by fracture, dislocation or trauma). Shoulder injuries can be avoided by avoiding overdoing repetitive motions (which can also cause tearing and trauma). Also, be more cautious and mindful when playing contact sports since you are prone to shoulder dislocation. It’s often best to see an orthopaedic doctor to help you evaluate your shoulder injury.
Fractures
Sports players are always at high risk of fractures. The injury has varying degrees, ranging from simple fractures to compound ones. A simple type is the fractured bones that break without piercing the skin. The compound type of fracture is the bones that pierce and stick through the skin. The symptoms are extreme painful sensations (due to the broken bone) accompanied by restrictive movements and swelling. It’s recommended that you see an orthopaedic doctor to treat fracture injuries.
Ankle sprains
The injury often occurs when the ankle joint is twisted in the wrong direction, which leads to pain, tenderness and swelling. While ankle sprains are less serious than having a shoulder labral tear or fractured bone, the condition still warrants proper care and attention for recovery. However, if your ankle looks deformed or feels unstable, you should consider seeing a doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment.
ACL strain or tearing
ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injuries occur mostly among professional athletes that are required to make immediate or quick body changes in direction. The ACL injury can either be a form of strain (occurs from overstretching) or tearing (ripped muscles or ligaments—which can be more serious). Instability in the knee, swelling, pain and popped sound are often symptoms of ACL injuries.
What You Should Do
Getting adequate rest, wearing proper protective gear, taking brief pauses, hydrating yourself and warming up are the most effective ways to minimise injuries. If you need to look for a clinic to treat a sprain, shoulder or hip labral tear in Singapore, you shouldn’t delay it. Getting immediate treatment can prevent further damage and worsening of the condition.
If you are looking for a hip arthritis treatment or total hip arthroplasty, visit Advanced Orthopaedic& Sports Centre.
