Sports Medicine For Sports Injuries in Bel Air, MD
- Who is at Risk for a Sports Injury?
All athletes in all sports are prone to injuries. From football to golf to cheer leading to dance, every athlete is as risk for injury. - What is a repetitive motion injury?
Most athletes suffer from repetitive motion sports injuries injuries that occur because they are doing the same motion over and over again. For example a baseball pitcher who throws the ball over 300 times in one baseball game. - I only play on the weekends can I get injured?
Injuries often occur in what we call the “weekend warrior”; the 30-50 year old athlete that plays as if they were 17. - Fun fact:
Did you know female athletes are more prone to knee injuries? As girls become teenagers their hip start to change shape and can put strain on the knees making them more susceptible to injuries. And this risk worsens after childbirth. The easiest prevention is custom foot orthotics.
What Are the Most Common Sports Injuries?
The most common injuries in most sports are concussion, and sprains or strains.
How to treat a concussion
Treatment for concussions can be very tricky and most are still experimental. Initially rest is the best option, then moving into light exercises and rehab. Be careful of additional concussion injuries as multiple injuries to the brain often become more serious. Often times when there is trauma to the head and brain it also cause strains or sprains in the neck as well.
Treatment for Sprains and Strains
At Home remember P.R.I.C.E.
- Protection – i.e tape, braces and wraps
- Rest – often underrated and underused; but give it a break. One day of rest can prevent a more serious injury that can remove the athlete for an entire season or permanently
- Ice -While never fun, Ice is always nice. Ice the affected area for 15-20 minutes, 3-5 times per day for the first 24-72 hours to reduce swelling. Leave ice off at least 1 ½ hours between applications.
- Compression – Wrap affected area starting with the area furthest from the heart, using even pressure. Wear until swelling decreases, loosen if the skin beyond the wrap starts turning blue, black or purple.
- Elevation – keep the injured area above the heart.
See a doctor if:
- If there’s a bone sticking out, obviously.
- Also if the injured area starts to go numb, the swelling and discoloration continues to worsen, you can’t bear any weight, or
- If there’s no improvement in 3 days.
Why do I need therapy it’s only a sprain?
- Sprains and strains often need help to heal 100 % . Tendons and ligaments undergo what is known as plastic deformation. As opposed to a rubber band that is elastic, soft tissues don’t bounce, they deform. On top of that, most have poor blood supply meaning healing times are slow and they need help returning to normal.
Can I just play through the injury?
You can but we do not recommend it. Our goal is to help you get back on the playing field as soon as possible, and this is done by using the most advanced and sought after techniques in physical medicine. Sometimes a week or two of rest combined with treatment can help an athlete come back stronger. Playing through pain may seem like the tough guy thing to do, but actually causes more damage and prolongs recovery. Proper treatment will actually get you back faster than gritting through.
If you didn’t know, your body is not made of wine or cheese; it does not get better with time! Those small nagging injuries when you were young will come back to haunt you later in life. Take care of those injuries while they’re only a minor league issue, not a major league problem.
Defining the Sports Injuries
What is a concussion?
Concussions occur from a blow to the head or trauma to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth; leading to physical and chemical damage to the brain.
Preventing concussions
When it comes to concussions, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Insist that safety comes first. Insist on proper technique and safety equipment.
- Helmets and other protective equipment should be well-maintained and be worn consistently and correctly. This includes keeping the chin strap buckled at all times. Understand that helmets can help protect the head and brain, but they are not 100 percent effective.
- Follow the rules and practice good sportsmanship with self-control at all times.
- Learn and apply the fundamentals skills often good technique will prevent injuries
- Football
- Practice “Heads Up Football:” never lower your head during a hit.
- Use proper techniques in blocking and tackling.
- Soccer
- Goal posts should be padded
- Soccer balls should never be over inflated.
- All soccer players should be taught the proper technique for heading the ball, and never before age 10.
Concussions can also happen in any sport where there’s intentional contact such as hockey and lacrosse; but also in sports with unintentional contact – which includes just about everything.
What is a Sprain or Strain?
Sprains: A sprain is an injury where one or more ligament(s) is overstretched or torn. Severity depends on how many ligaments are damaged and how much of each individual ligaments fibers are pulled or torn. The most frequently sprained ligaments are the ligaments of the ankles, knees and wrists.
Strains: A strain is an injury to a muscle, tendon or both; caused by overuse, blunt trauma, or over-stretching. Depending on the severity of the injury, a strain may be a simple overstretch of the muscle or tendon, or it can result in a partial or complete tear. The low back and hamstring muscles are the most common locations for this type of injury.
What sports are at risk for a sprain or strain?
- Contact sports usually sustain a strain injury from a trauma (i.e. a hit in football)*
- Sports that have a lot of starting and stopping such as soccer or basketball.
- Overuse injuries such as baseball or gymnastics
- Endurance sports such as running
- Sports that require prolonged gripping such as golf or tennis
*these are an example; these injuries can happen in almost any similar sport
See a doctor if:
- If there’s a bone sticking out, obviously.
- Also if the injured area starts to go numb, the swelling and discoloration continues to worsen, you can’t bear any weight, or
- If there’s no improvement in 3 days.
How to Prevent Sports Injuries?
The best prevention for sprains and strains are similar to prevent of all injuries including practicing proper technique, maintaining physical fitness, wear the proper attire (including shoes) and protective gear. Be sure to warm up, know your limits, eat a healthy diet, and drink plenty of water.
From professional athletes to soccer moms, we treat everyone with precision and skill. We are here to provide you with the latest and best care in sports medicine today.
Dr. Lee specializes in diagnosing and treating common sports injuries, in addition to mechanical disorders of the spine and musculoskeletal system. Our goal is to help you get back on the playing field as soon as possible, and this is done by using the most advanced and sought after techniques in physical medicine.