Sports Injuries- Understanding Sports Injuries

The exclusion of Axar Patel from the World Cup due to an injury has made everyone wonder what actually happened to him. We will understand what happened to him, along with different sports injuries.

Types of injuries

There are basically two types of injuries: acute and chronic. Acute injuries occur suddenly. When a person falls or twists a joint, you can notice the injury right away. Chronic injuries develop when a certain part of the body is overused. You might not see the injury right away. It develops over time.

Understanding how each body part is susceptible to injury

Head: When we hear an injury to the head, the most common term we can think of is concussion. It is also true that it is the most common head injury. It occurs when there is a sudden blow to the head. It is traumatic and can lead to impairment of cognitive functions. It should be treated immediately.

Shoulder: A shoulder can be injured in three possible ways.

Rotator cuff injury: This is the most common shoulder injury among athletes. Our shoulder joint is stabilised by four muscles and tendons. And when any one of the muscles or tendon swells due to overuse or a sudden blow, it is bound to cause an injury. In cricket, bowlers are at risk of this injury due to the continuous rotation of their shoulders.

Impingement: Herein, when the top of the shoulder blade puts pressure on the tissues beneath it, tendinitis and bruises can develop, causing restricted movement and pain.

Elbow

Tennis elbow: also called lateral epicondylitis. What happens here is that the tendons in the elbow develop small tears and become inflamed due to repeated use of the forearms. This can cause pain. It is common among batsmen in cricket.

Golfer’s elbow, also called medial epicondylitis. There is a pain in the inner part of the elbow due to tendinitis. Sports that involve repeated use of the wrist are prone to this injury.

Knee: The most common way a knee could be injured is through an injury in or around the kneecap. This could be due to pain or a fracture in or around the kneecap.

Leg: Leg injuries can occur in the hip, groin, and thighs.

Groin injury: Quick side-to-side  motions can strain the inner thighs, causing groin pull.

Thigh injury: A muscle strain, pull, or tear can occur in the hamstring, quadriceps, and adductor muscles due to overstretching of muscles.

What happened to Axar Patel?

He had a strain in his quadriceps. Meaning there was an acute tearing of the quadriceps due to overstretching of the muscle. It might have been possible that he could have injured himself while batting. It usually takes 4-6 weeks to recover and proper rehabilitation to gain full control.

Ankle sprains are the most common injuries associated with athletes. When one doesn’t land well while jumping, it could lead to a twist of the ankle, causing strain. Bowlers are at risk of ankle strain.

Spine: Low-back muscle strains are by far the most common spinal injuries in athletes. This arises due to overstretching of the back muscles.

Symptoms

For acute injuries

• Sudden and severe pain
• Swelling
• Unable to move a joint
• Joint or a bone out of its place

For chronic injuries

• Pain when you play or exercise
• Swelling
• Pain when you rest.

Treatment

The following steps are followed for acute injuries:

• Rest. Stop playing immediately.
• Ice: Apply ice packs as soon as you find one.
• Compress: Compress the injured area gently with a compression bandage.
• Elevate: Elevate the injured area. It helps reduce swelling.

This is often called RICE treatment. After a few days, start using a crutch or a sling. Alongside, gently start moving the injured area.

If the injury doesn’t subside, it will be recommended that you go for surgery.

Sources- NIMS, Verywellhealth

Photos- Image by macrovector on Freepik, Image by rawpixel.com on Freepik, Image by jcomp on Freepik