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THE MOST COMMON SPORTS INJURIES AND HOW TO PREVENT THEM
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels
All the pre-game stretches, mental preparation and brand name swag — from the personalized jersey down to the custom socks — cannot protect you against sports-related injuries, though they can help. However, to make the most of your efforts, you first need to understand what types of injuries occur most often during matches, meets and games and what you can do to prevent them.
The #1 Most Common Sport Injury
The most common type of sporting injuries are sprains and strains or, specifically to the ankle. A “sprain” is a medical term that refers to injuries to the ligaments, which connect the bones to the joints. Sprains occur when you stretch the ligaments past their limits, thereby causing tears or deformation. A “strain,” on the other hand, refers to a muscle injury. Strains occur when overuse or overstretching of the muscle causes the tendons or muscle fibers to tear.
With proper rest and at-home care, mild sprains and strains typically heal within one to three weeks. Moderate injuries can take up to four weeks to heal, while more severe injuries that limit blood flow to the ankle may take up to six months to heal.
Not only can a sprain or strain keep you from engaging in activities you enjoy but also, it can severely interfere with your fitness goals. The good news is that you can drastically reduce your risk of sustaining a strain or a sprain and all the inconveniences that come with either by taking the following measures:
- Engage in pre-participation training, particularly if you have been out of the game for a while.
- Do warm-up exercises to increase blood flow to the muscles.
- Avoid engaging in any form of exercise when you are tired or in pain.
- Keep your muscles warm when you’re on the sideline with appropriate gear, such as a tracksuit and custom socks.
- Learn to recognize when you are tired and time to take a break.
If you already sustained an injury, the number one thing you can do for your health is to sit the next game out. You can always hit the field, court or track next weekend if you let your injury rest today.
Other Common Sport Injuries
Ankle strains and sprains may be the most common sports injuries, but they are by no means the only type of harms you must prepare for. Other common types of sports injuries that can keep you on the sidelines for weeks or even months are as follows:
- Shin Splints: This type of injury causes sharp pain down the front of the lower legs and is often brought on by running, or engaging in some other strenuous activity, on pavement.
- ACL Tear: An ACL tear, or injury to the anterior cruciate ligament, occurs when the connective tissue between the thighbone and the shinbone becomes strained or torn. ACL tears are possibly the most severe of the common sports injuries.
- Patellofemoral Syndrome: Patellofemoral syndrome occurs when the tissue under the kneecap becomes worn as the result of repetitive motion.
- Tennis Elbow: Tennis elbow is the result of repetitive motion of the elbow and occurs when the tendons in the elbow become torn or irritated.
Using the PRICE Principle
For most sports injuries, the PRICE principle is enough to limit swelling, speed up healing and get you back in the game sooner rather than later. Per the principle, you must do five simple things:
- Protect yourself from further injury.
- Restrict your activity levels.
- Apply ice every 20 minutes per one to two hours and for the first 48 hours after the injury.
- Compress the injury with a bandage, custom socks or an elastic material.
- Elevate the injured area above the heart.
If the injury is particularly painful, your doctor may recommend over-the-counter pain medications. If the OTC meds and the PRICE method do not help to alleviate pain or swelling, it may be time to see a doctor. For the athletic gear you need to protect yourself and look good while doing so, shop Socks Rocks today.
Check out some other great articles from Sarah
Your Quick Guide to Sports Gear Storage
5 Reasons To Wear Running Socks
Author Bio:
Sara Grace Del Rosario
Sarah Grace Del Rosario is a blogger from Sock Rock. We match businesses with vetted marketing experts and help measure and manage their performance, to ensure marketing success. When not working, Sarah loves to travel and paint. She also does event styling for events like wedding and birthday celebrations.
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