360 Orchard Road, #05-02 International Building, Singapore 238869.
A V2U Healthcare company
+ 65 6736 4142
Sports Injuries
WHY DO SPORTS INJURIES HAPPEN ?
Everyone talks about keeping fit and staying active by doing exercises or playing sports but to stay safe and enjoy the full benefits of sports is important. Most of us try to squeeze in some sporting activity or exercise in our busy schedules as and when possible, with our thoughts only focused on the hopefully positive outcomes. Some of us may set our goals too high and end up overdoing the exercise. We do forget that injuries may happen during sports or exercise. Most often these are due to:
COMMON CONDITIONS / INJURIES CAUSED BY SPORTS:
Sports injuries may be acute or chronic.
Acute injuries happen during the sport or exercise whereas Chronic injuries happen when you continue with the same sport or exercise (may have repetitive stress or micro-trauma leading to inflammation ) over a period of time.
The common sports injuries which involve musculo-skeletal system including muscles, bones ,ligaments and soft tissues like cartilage, etc. include:
RISK FACTORS FOR SPORTS INJURIES:
Our body is designed to cope with the stresses exerted on it by the various activities but when it is stressed beyond it’s capacity, is what results in injuries. Sports and exercises of any kind may have risk of injuries, especially contact sports like soccer, running, etc. Even with non- contact sports like cycling, swimming , etc. one may have risk of overuse injuries or accidents.
The risk factors may include:
External factors like:
Internal factors (physical problems associated to the individual) like:
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS:
An acute injury will usually present with:
A chronic injury on the other hand presents with:
CONSEQUENCES OF NEGLECTING THESE INJURIES:
Often the injuries which have been neglected for sometime, may result in more serious problems. Acute injuries can become chronic.
Like an inflammed tendon with continual stress and overuse can get ruptured after sometime. Or a sprained ligament with repetitive sprains, may become increasingly laxed leading to joint instability.Wear and tear in the joints may set in fast with repetitive or unhealed injuries.
Movements in the affected parts may get restricted with increasing difficulty in performing simple activities.
POSSIBLE OPTIONS FOR TREATMENT:
As a general rule, the principle for initial treatment of minor sports injuries (with no bleeding) is P.R.I.C.E. which stands for:
A doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatories and painkillers . If there is localised inflammation and swelling then the doctors may use cortisone injections.
Physiotherapy treatment includes:
We help you with Physiotherapy treatment using:
If the athlete has a ruptured tendon due to a major injury or continually stress and inflammation then the limb may be kept immobilised for sometime or a surgery may be required.
If there is severe instability of the ligaments / joints then a surgical correction or reconstruction may be advised by the Orthopaedics Specialist.
Useful advice:
Important tips to prevent injuries:
Experienced physiotherapists in Singapore, with over 18 years of experience, help you to get relief from pain/weakness quickly and easily. You can book an appointment to see our Senior Physiotherapist. We are located right in the heart of Singapore, at Orchard, and are available Mondays through Saturday.
Everyone talks about keeping fit and staying active by doing exercises or playing sports but to stay safe and enjoy the full benefits of sports is important. Most of us try to squeeze in some sporting activity or exercise in our busy schedules as and when possible, with our thoughts only focused on the hopefully positive outcomes. Some of us may set our goals too high and end up overdoing the exercise. We do forget that injuries may happen during sports or exercise. Most often these are due to:
| Overuse or repetitive stress of muscles |
| Poor training techniques |
| Insufficient warm-up and stretching |
| Improper exercise or sporting gear |
| Lack of conditioning |
| Accidents |
COMMON CONDITIONS / INJURIES CAUSED BY SPORTS:
Sports injuries may be acute or chronic.
Acute injuries happen during the sport or exercise whereas Chronic injuries happen when you continue with the same sport or exercise (may have repetitive stress or micro-trauma leading to inflammation ) over a period of time.
The common sports injuries which involve musculo-skeletal system including muscles, bones ,ligaments and soft tissues like cartilage, etc. include:
| Ligamentous sprains / stretch or ruptures |
| Muscle or tendon strains (tendonitis) or tears |
| Fractures |
| Joint dislocations or instability |
| Strained neck or back |
| Shin splints – pain along the front of shin bone |
RISK FACTORS FOR SPORTS INJURIES:
Our body is designed to cope with the stresses exerted on it by the various activities but when it is stressed beyond it’s capacity, is what results in injuries. Sports and exercises of any kind may have risk of injuries, especially contact sports like soccer, running, etc. Even with non- contact sports like cycling, swimming , etc. one may have risk of overuse injuries or accidents.
The risk factors may include:
External factors like:
| Improper training techniques using excessive resistance, imbalance in training different muscle groups, over- exercise, lack of recovery time between exercise |
| Sporting surface e.g. floor friction |
| Training equipment |
| Weekend warrior routine i.e. intensive exercise over the weekend and none for the rest of the week |
Internal factors (physical problems associated to the individual) like:
| Age like for those picking up intensive sports later on in life, may not have a body conditioned to be able to cope with extra demands on it. |
| Level of fitness |
| Overuse i.e. excessive use of the same movement pattern using the same muscle group. |
| Ligament laxity and Joint instability |
| Previous injuries or return to sports too soon after injuries without proper rehab |
| Muscle weakness or imbalance |
| Postural defects |
| Poor foot mechanics |
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS:
An acute injury will usually present with:
| Sudden onset of severe pain. |
| Tenderness and swelling |
| Muscle spasm |
| Bruising |
| Limited movement of the injured part |
| Weakness of the limb |
| Difficulty in weight bearing on the limb |
| A dislocated bone , loose or unstable joint |
A chronic injury on the other hand presents with:
| Pain during the game or exercise |
| A dull or nagging ache at rest |
| Limited mobility |
CONSEQUENCES OF NEGLECTING THESE INJURIES:
Often the injuries which have been neglected for sometime, may result in more serious problems. Acute injuries can become chronic.
Like an inflammed tendon with continual stress and overuse can get ruptured after sometime. Or a sprained ligament with repetitive sprains, may become increasingly laxed leading to joint instability.Wear and tear in the joints may set in fast with repetitive or unhealed injuries.
Movements in the affected parts may get restricted with increasing difficulty in performing simple activities.
POSSIBLE OPTIONS FOR TREATMENT:
As a general rule, the principle for initial treatment of minor sports injuries (with no bleeding) is P.R.I.C.E. which stands for:
| Protection by taping or strapping the part to prevent further damage |
| Rest for the first 72 hours promotes healing |
| Ice on the area for the first 72 hours (NO HEAT) to control inflammation |
| Compression with an elastic bandage |
| Elevation whenever possible to reduce the swelling. |
A doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatories and painkillers . If there is localised inflammation and swelling then the doctors may use cortisone injections.
Physiotherapy treatment includes:
We help you with Physiotherapy treatment using:
| Ice therapy, Ultrasound, Laser and electrical currents for relief of pain and swelling |
| Exercises to regain mobility and stretch the tight muscles and soft tissues |
| Strengthening and correcting the muscle imbalance |
| Improvement of walking or weight bearing pattern |
| Developing core muscle control using advanced technology like Real Time Ultrasound which provides a visual display of muscles in action. |
| Special Taping techniques for support of the injured muscle/ joints or prevention of injuries when returning to sports |
| Balance and pro-prioception training |
| Advising on training intensity and duration for retuning to the sport as per the condition of the client |
If the athlete has a ruptured tendon due to a major injury or continually stress and inflammation then the limb may be kept immobilised for sometime or a surgery may be required.
If there is severe instability of the ligaments / joints then a surgical correction or reconstruction may be advised by the Orthopaedics Specialist.
Useful advice:
Important tips to prevent injuries:
| Preparation with a program for the sport/exercise with proper warm ups and stretches and being in shape practicing proper strokes and skills required with adequate rest in between |
| Using good supportive footwear and using appropriate protective aids like joint or muscle supports and also taping or strapping the weak or injured muscle/ligament to avoid stressing them further |
| Not increasing the exercise too much and too soon |
| Knowing and following the rules for the particular activity and the proper use of the sporting equipment |
| Avoid playing when tired, ill, or in pain |
Experienced physiotherapists in Singapore, with over 18 years of experience, help you to get relief from pain/weakness quickly and easily. You can book an appointment to see our Senior Physiotherapist. We are located right in the heart of Singapore, at Orchard, and are available Mondays through Saturday.
