Every type of sport can lead to an injury. You can strain your shoulder while swinging a golf club, or you can get a bruise when you fall off the balance beam in gymnastics. When you play a specific sport, it’s important to know about the particular injuries that you’re the most susceptible to so that you can be more cautious and take preventive measures.
We’re going to talk about the injuries that are commonly associated with three sports: basketball, football and swimming.
Common basketball injuries
Basketball players constantly sprint, jump and pivot quickly; these types of movements can make them susceptible to many injuries that happen quickly or build over time. In 2022, more than 310,000 injuries were sustained from basketball, the majority of which were in the 15-24 age range.
Here are common basketball injuries:
- Ankle sprain — The most common injury for basketball players is an ankle sprain. It occurs when the ligament becomes overstretched or torn when the ankle turns inward.
- ACL tear — A basketball player can tear their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), which is located in the knee and works to stabilize the knee. When a player quickly changes direction, they could sustain an ACL tear.
Common football injuries
Football players put their body through a lot, as it’s a contact sport that involves a lot of blunt force and collisions with other players. According to data from 2022, there were more than 260,000 football injuries. More than 145,000 of those were sustained by those between the ages of 5 and 14.
Here are common football injuries:
- MCL sprain — The medial collateral ligament (MCL) connects the shinbone to the thighbone. In football, it can be sprained by a tackle or quick twisting movements, leading to pain and a popping sensation on the inside of the knee.
- Meniscus tear — There’s a piece of cartilage on either side of the knee, called a meniscus, that acts as a cushion between the shinbone and thighbone. A meniscus can tear due to quickly stopping, starting and pivoting. Kicking the ball can also impact the meniscus.
Common swimming injuries
Swimming requires a lot of repetitive motions, especially leg and overhead movements, so it’s not uncommon for swimmers to develop painful injuries over time. For every 1,000 hours of training, a swimmer is likely to sustain more than three injuries.
Common swimming injuries:
- Swimming shoulder — The most common swimming injury is known as swimming shoulder. It can develop from overuse due to the repetitive over-the-head movements that are required of most strokes.
- Swimmer’s knee — It’s possible for the medial collateral ligament in the knee to become strained while performing the breaststroke. The repetitive flexion and external rotation puts excessive strain on the ligament, leading to inflammation and pain.
At Border Therapy Services, we can help nearly any athlete get back to their sport after sustaining an injury. With treatments like manual therapy and dry needling, we can reduce your pain and restore your mobility so you can continue improving your sports performance.
Call us or request an appointment today for help with treating sports injuries.