Everything about sports injuries and their treatments  

Whether you are a highly trained athlete or a famous sportsman, there’s always a probability you could get hurt. Sports injuries become a part of your life when you are exercising and training continuously. These types of injuries are caused by a direct impact or the application of severe force and strain. There are two kinds of sports injuries-a) Acute b) Chronic. An injury that happens suddenly, such as a sprained ankle caused by cumbersome landings, is called acute injury. Whereas, chronic injuries are caused by the constant use of muscle groups or joints. Improper postures and structural abnormalities can also give rise to chronic injuries. Hence, if you feel any pain or sprain in your joints make sure you book an appointment at your nearest knee hospital and get yourself checked by a knee doctor.

Types of Sports Injuries

• Ankle sprain – An ankle sprain occurs when you accidentally twist your ankle in an awkward way causing an injury to the tough bands of the ligaments, which connect the bones of the leg to the foot. Symptoms of an ankle sprain include pain, swelling, and stiffness

• Concussion-A concussion is a mild reversible brain injury caused by a blow to the head, which may lead to loss of consciousness. Symptoms of concussions are headache, dizziness, and memory loss (short term)

• Knee Joint Injuries: Common knee injuries are fractures around the knee, dislocation, and sprains, and wear and tear of ligaments. Symptoms of knee injuries are- pain, stiffness, and swelling

• Knee Dislocation: Knee dislocation occurs when the bones of the knee go out of place, either partially or completely. Causes of knee dislocation are high energy trauma, such as falls, vehicle crashes, and sports-related contact

• Stress Fractures: Fracture of a bone caused by continuous mechanical stress. Stress fractures develop when you change your activities-such as trying a new exercise, increasing the intensity of workouts, or changing workout surfaces. 

• Hamstring strain: A hamstring strain occurs when muscles get stretched and start tearing. It is accompanied by mild pain with a short recovery time

• Dental Injuries: Dental injury refers to trauma to the teeth and nearby soft tissues such as the lips and tongue. 

• Shoulder Injury: Shoulder injuries can be a large number of sports injuries that occur from dislocations, misalignment, strains on muscles, and sprains of ligaments. Shoulder injuries are caused due to a lack of flexibility, strength, or stabilization. 

Treatment for sports injuries

Sports injuries treatment depends on the type and severity of the injury. It’s important to visit a knee doctor or an orthopedic specialist if your pain progresses. However, minor injuries such as mild sprains and strains can be treated at home with PRICE therapy for two or three days. PRICE therapy stands for protection, rest, ice, compression, and elevation.

Protection: Protect the injured area from further injuries by using the support of crutches, walking sticks, sling bags, wristbands or kneecaps.

Rest: Take adequate rest and limit your daily physical activity. Sit, Stand or lie down carefully without giving strain to your affected area.

Ice: Apply ice packs frequently to the affected area for twenty-thirty minutes. This activity will reduce your swelling in the affected area.

Compression: Make use of elastic compression bandages while carrying out your daily chores.

Elevation: Keep the injured area in an elevated position. This may reduce swelling in the affected/injured area

Physiotherapy: Specific exercises under the supervision of a physiotherapist will help in restoring the lost function of your knee and strengthening the leg muscles. 

Common Surgeries to treat sports injuries include ACL repair, Knee Arthroscopy, Knee replacement surgery.

Knee Arthroscopy: This type of knee replacement surgery is performed by making a small incision and inserting a tiny camera, called an arthroscope into the knee. The best knee replacement doctor will view the inside of the joint on a screen/monitor. This surgery is also called knee keyhole surgery.

Knee replacement surgery: There are two types of knee replacement surgery-a) Partial knee replacement b) Total knee replacement

Partial Knee Replacement: Partial knee replacement surgery is carried on patients who are suffering from osteoarthritis. In this knee surgery, only the damaged area of the cartilage in the knee gets replaced. Partial knee replacement surgery is performed with smaller cuts than total knee replacement.

Total Knee Replacement: During total knee replacement, your knee replacement surgeon removes some bone and cartilage from the areas of your bone and shines bone, where they meet at your knee joint. Your knee doctor will replace the knee area of your thigh bone with a metal implant and the knee area of your shinbone with a plastic implant.

ACL Reconstruction Surgery: During an ACL Surgery, the ACL Reconstruction surgeon will replace the damaged ligament with new ACL graft tissue obtained from your hamstring. Regardless of the condition of your ACL injury, the best ACL surgeon can stabilize your knee and restore ligament’s functionality.

Recovery from sport injuries

Depending on the type of sports injury, your doctor will suggest you rest for a few weeks to a few months in order to ensure a full recovery. However, you can try some homemade remedies to get some relief from pain. Before that consult your doctor as these remedies might contain ingredients that could cause allergic reactions. 

Frankincense oil: Frankincense, also known as olibanum is derived from the resin of the Boswellia tree. The Frankincense oil contains antioxidants and creates analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects which are beneficial in reducing inflammatory symptoms and alleviating knee pain 

How to use: Add 5-6 drops of pure frankincense oil and a carrier oil such as coconut oil and mustard oil, and gently massage the affected area, 2-3 times a day for 5-10 minutes. 

Carrots: Carrots are believed to be an orthodox Chinese remedy for knee and joint pain. Carrots contain vitamin A and beta-carotene, both of which are believed to fight inflammation

How to use: Grate one or two carrots and add lemon juice and consume it in raw form.

Epsom salt: For ages, Epsom salt baths are considered to be an effective remedy for pain relief, especially for knee and joint pain. The magnesium in Epsom salt helps with the swelling and pain. 

How to use: Use two cups of Epsom salt in a bath of warm water. 

Soaked fenugreek seeds: This is one of the easiest and instant home remedies for an aching knee. Fenugreek provides warmth to the joints, making them heal faster. 

How to use: Soak 1-2 teaspoons of fenugreek seeds in water at night. Strain it and consume the water in the morning. 

Ginger: Ginger is known to have natural anti-inflammatory properties that aid in lessening the pain in the knees and joints. The antioxidants in ginger help in fighting the degeneration of joints. 

How to use: Boil two cups of water. Add chopped ginger and turmeric powder into it. Let it cool down for at least ten minutes and then have the ginger laced water with honey. ​​​​​​​