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Sports Injuries

PAIN CONDITION

Athletic Injury Pain: Causes, Treatment & Pain Relief

Participating in sports and leading an active lifestyle offers many benefits, from improved physical and mental health to personal growth and enhanced social skills. Recreational activities and sports serve as a vital emotional outlet for participants, fostering resilience and a sense of community.[1] While athletic activity offers numerous health benefits, it also carries a risk of injury. The likelihood of getting hurt varies by sport, with muscle overuse, poor technique, and sudden impacts leading to injuries ranging from mild to severe. Common injuries that sideline both professional and amateur athletes include strains, sprains, fractures, and tendon damage.

About Sports and Recreational Activity Injuries

Athletic injuries are classified as acute or chronic. Acute injuries occur suddenly, such as a fractured or sprained ankle.[2] Chronic injuries are due to long-term muscle or joint overuse and develop over time.[2] Acute injuries, which are often temporary, can become chronic if left untreated. Proper care varies from at-home care for mild incidents (R.I.C.E.) to medical intervention for severe injuries by healthcare professionals and pain management specialists, ensuring proper healing.

Who Is Most Likely to Experience Injuries Due to Physical Activity?

Sports injuries can occur in athletes and anyone active, not just the pros. These injuries can impact individuals of all ages, including children, teens, adults, and seniors.[1] Participating in any sport carries the risk of injury, mainly when athletes neglect warm-ups, use improper techniques, or forgo protective equipment. Participating in high-impact sports like track and field, gymnastics, or dance—activities that involve running, jumping, or pivoting—significantly increases the risk of injury.[3] Contact sports involving tackling or collisions, like football, hockey and soccer, increase the odds of severe injury.[3]

Some sports injuries aren’t just for athletes. You don’t have to play sports or work out to receive specific sports-related injuries. People who do repetitive movements are especially at risk, like painters, carpenters, artists, computer programmers and gardeners.[4]

Risk Factors for Athletic Injuries

Athletes, active individuals, and those with physically demanding jobs face unique risks for injury due to the physical strain, repetitive motions, and high-impact activities involved. Common causes of fitness and work-related injuries include overuse, inadequate warm-ups, and improper techniques, which can all significantly strain the musculoskeletal system.

Here are some of the most common reasons sports injuries occur:

  • Lack of proper warm-up or cool-down
  • Overuse or repetitive strain
  • Poor technique or body mechanics
  • Insufficient rest or recovery time
  • Sudden increase in intensity or duration of activity (exertion beyond your fitness level)
  • Inadequate protective gear or equipment
  • Physical fatigue or muscle weakness
  • Returning to activity too soon after an injury
  • Participating on hard surfaces
  • Not wearing appropriate footwear
  • Not staying hydrated and/or training during the heat of the day
  • Failing to maintain a good level of fitness

The injuries you’re most prone to often depend on the intensity of your activity, your fitness level, and your physical conditioning.

Fitness Injury Types Defined

According to the Cleveland Clinic, here are brief descriptions to help you better understand common injury types:

  • Sprain: An injury where ligaments—tissues connecting bones to each other—are overstretched or torn, often occurring in the ankle, wrist, or knee.
  • Strain: A stretched or torn muscle or tendon commonly affecting the hamstring, lower back, or calf.
    Fracture: A broken bone caused by significant impact or stress, ranging from small cracks (stress fractures) to complete breaks.
  • Dislocation: Occurs when bones are forced out of their normal position at a joint, such as the shoulder or knee. Dislocated joints are classified as complete dislocations (luxation) or partial dislocations (subluxation).[5]
  • Concussion: A mild traumatic brain injury caused by a blow to the head, often seen in contact sports.
  • Tendonitis: Inflammation or irritation of a tendon, typically caused by repetitive movements; common in elbows (tennis elbow) or shoulders.
  • Bursitis: Inflammation of the bursae (fluid-filled sacs) that cushion joints, frequently affecting the hip, knee, or shoulder.
  • Shin Splints: Pain along the shin bone (tibia) due to overuse or stress, often in runners.
  • Cartilage Tear: Damage to cartilage, commonly in the knee (meniscus tear), which cushions joints and enables smooth movement.
  • Stress Fracture: A small crack in a bone resulting from repetitive force or overuse, particularly in weight-bearing bones like the shin or foot.

The injuries you’re most prone to often depend on the intensity of your activity, your fitness level, and your physical conditioning.

Common Sports & Performance Injuries

What and how you hurt yourself playing sports often depends on the activity type and intensity. Injuries occur from activities you may not have considered: trampolines, skateboarding, bicycling, in-line skating, bowling, gardening, baking and farming. From sprains and fractures to dislocations and concussions, injuries range from mild to severe.

Here’s a breakdown of common performance-related by body region to help you recognize and address them effectively:

Head and Neck

Sudden impacts or whiplash movements often cause injuries to the head and neck. These injuries can be severe as they may affect the brain or spine.

Common head and neck injuries include:
  • Concussion
  • Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
  • Whiplash
  • Cervical strain
  • Jaw injury
  • Broken nose
  • Facial fractures

Elbow Injuries

Injuries to this “hinged” joint are usually due to repetitive motions and overuse, making conditions like tendonitis and bursitis common, especially in older adults. As the cartilage and connective tissues in the elbow weaken with age, even routine activities such as lifting, gardening, or playing sports can lead to strain and discomfort.

In addition to overuse injuries, falls or sudden impacts can cause fractures or dislocations, which are more difficult to recover from in seniors due to slower healing and joint stiffness. If left untreated, chronic elbow pain can significantly impact daily tasks, reducing independence and overall quality of life.

Common elbow injuries include:
  • Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) [3]
  • Golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis) [3]
  • Little League elbow [3]
  • Bursitis
  • Ulnar collateral ligament [6]

Wrist and Hand Injuries

Activities that require grip strength or wrist rotation can strain the soft tissues. Hands and fingers are also susceptible to injuries, especially in catching sports.

Common wrist and hand injuries include:
  • Wrist sprain
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Finger dislocation
  • Jersey finger [7]
  • Jammed fingers
  • Broken hands or fingers

Back (Lumbar) Injuries

Heavy lifting, sudden twisting or significant impacts can cause lumbar injuries.

Common back injuries include:
  • Lower back strain
  • Herniated disc
  • Spondylolisthesis

Hip Injuries

Individuals involved in high-impact or pivoting sports are susceptible to hip injuries in and around this weight-bearing joint.

Common hip injuries:
  • Hip flexor strain
  • Labrum injuries
  • Impingement [6]
  • Bursitis
  • Hip dislocation

Knee Injuries

Knees ensure substantial stress during most activities, especially extreme sports.

Common knee injuries:
  • Runner’s knee (patellofemoral stress syndrome) [8]
  • Jumper’s knee (patellar tendonitis) [8]
  • IT band (iliotibial band syndrome) [6]
  • Knee dislocation
  • ACL tear
  • MCL sprain
  • Meniscus tear
  • Patella fracture

Leg Injuries

Legs take a lot of abuse from the mechanism necessary to participate in sports but can also be damaged by impacts.

Common leg injuries:
  • Groin pull
  • Shin splints [9]
  • Hamstring strain
  • Stress fractures [9]

Ankle and Foot Injuries

Fast pivots and jumping, especially on hard, unforgiving surfaces, can cause foot or ankle injuries.

Common foot and ankle injuries:
  • Ankle sprain
  • Achilles tendonitis
  • Plantar fasciitis
  • Stress fractures

Muscles/Fascia Injuries

Muscular injuries and fascia strains are common after intense physical exertion or a high-impact collision, resulting in soreness, stiffness or bruising.

Common fascia or muscle injuries:
  • Chronic compartment syndrome [6]
  • Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) [6]
  • Fasciitis [6]
  • Contusions (bruising)
  • Strains

Symptoms of Athletic Injuries

Depending on the type of injury sustained, one or more of the following symptoms may be present:

Acute Sports Injury Symptoms

  • Sudden, sharp pain
  • Swelling or bruising
  • Limited range of motion
  • Visible deformity
  • Inability to bear weight
  • Immediate stiffness or muscle spasms
  • Numbness or tingling
  • Dizziness or confusion
  • Bleeding or oozing from a wound
  • Tenderness to touch
  • Loss of consciousness

Chronic Symptoms Following Athletic Injuries

  • Persistent or recurring pain
  • Ongoing swelling or inflammation
  • Stiffness or reduced flexibility
  • Weakness in the affected area
  • Difficulty performing daily activities
  • Chronic headaches or migraines
  • Numbness or tingling in the limbs
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Sensitivity to pressure or movement
  • Difficulty concentrating or memory issues

Pain Management and Sports Rehab for Sports-Related Injuries

Effective treatment of sports-type injuries requires a comprehensive approach, including pain management and rehabilitation. Regardless of how your sports injury occurred, a personalized treatment plan will address your pain and recovery goals, such as getting back to work or play. Pain management and sports rehab include physical therapy, medication management, and targeted exercises to restore full function, reduce pain and prevent future injuries. With the right healthcare team, active people sidelined with injuries can recover and safely return to sports, work or their favorite activities.

Staying active—whether through hobbies, work, or organized sports—brings incredible health and wellness benefits that far outweigh the risk of injury. Don’t let the fear of getting hurt stop you from enjoying an active lifestyle; the rewards for your mind and body are well worth it!

Resources:

  1. Malm C, Jakobsson J, Isaksson A. Physical Activity and Sports—Real Health Benefits: A Review with Insight into the Public Health of Sweden. Sports [Internet]. 2019;7(5):127. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/sports7050127 Accessed October 24, 2024. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6572041/
  2. Sports injuries. Better Health [Internet]. Published 2012. Accessed October 24, 2024. Available from: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/sports-injuries
  3. Sports Injuries: Types, Treatment and Prevention. Cleveland Clinic [Internet]. Published November 16, 2021. Accessed October 24, 2024. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22093-sports-injuries
  4. Greenberg MI, Vearrier D. Work-Related Repetitive Motion Injuries. Merck Manual Consumer Version [Internet]. Published August 2022. Accessed October 24, 2024. Available from: https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/special-subjects/occupational-and-environmental-medicine/work-related-repetitive-motion-injuries
  5. Dislocation. Cleveland Clinic [Internet]. Published 2018. Accessed October 24, 2024. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17873-dislocation
  6. Sport Injury Classification. Physiopedia [Internet]. Published 2010. Accessed October 24, 2024. Available from: https://www.physio-pedia.com/Sport_Injury_Classification
  7. Jersey Finger – Injuries and Poisoning. Merck Manual Consumer Version [Internet]. Accessed October 24, 2024. Available from: https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/injuries-and-poisoning/sports-injuries/jersey-finger
  8. Sports Injuries. John Hopkins Medicine [Internet]. Published 2019. Accessed October 24, 2024. Available from: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/sports-injuries
  9. Fischer K. Most Common Sports Injuries. WebMD [Internet]. Published May 8, 2023. Accessed October 24, 2024. Available from:https://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/most-common-sports-injuries
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