What Are Sports Injuries?

Sports injuries are injuries that typically occur while participating in organized sports, competitions, training sessions, or organized fitness activities. These injuries may occur in teens for a variety of reasons, including improper training, lack of appropriate footwear or safety equipment, and rapid growth during puberty.

There are two general types. The first type is an acute traumatic injury. Acute traumatic injuries usually involve a single blow from a single application of force like getting a cross-body block in football. Acute traumatic injuries include:

a fracture a crack, break, or shattering of a bone a bruise, known medically as a contusion caused by a direct blow, which may cause swelling and bleeding in muscles and other body tissues a strain a stretch or tear of a muscle or tendon, the tough and narrow end of a muscle that connects it to a bone a sprain a stretch or tear of a ligament, the tissue that supports and strengthens joints by connecting bones and cartilage an abrasion a scrape a laceration a cut in the skin that is usually deep enough to require stitches

The second type of sports injury is an overuse or chronic injury. Chronic injuries are those that happen over a period of time. Chronic injuries are usually the result of repetitive training, such as running, overhand throwing, or serving a ball in tennis. These include:

stress fractures tiny cracks in the bone's surface often caused by repetitive overloading (such as in the feet of a basketball player who is continuously jumping on the court) tendinitis inflammation of the tendon caused by repetitive stretching epiphysitis or apophysitis growth plate overload injuries such as Osgood-Schlatter disease

Often overuse injuries seem less important than acute injuries. You may be tempted to ignore that aching in your wrist or that soreness in your knees, but always remember that just because an injury isn't dramatic doesn't mean it's unimportant or will go away on its own. If left untreated, a chronic injury will probably get worse over time.

Managing Sore Muscles and Joint Pain

By Stephanie Watson WebMD Feature Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD You work hard all week, so when the weekend finally rolls around you want to play just as hard. There's nothing like a few rounds of golf, a hike in the mountains, or an intense workout at the gym to reinvigorate you. But all of that activity can result in soreness and stiffness that shows up a day or two later. Dont be sidelined by muscle pain. Find out the causes and proper treatments so you can stay on your game.

What's Causing My Sore Muscles? It's normal to have sore muscles after you work out, play sports, or even do housework, especially if: You did an activity you're not used to (like running a marathon when you normally jog just a few miles). You suddenly kicked up your exercise intensity level or increased the length of your workout. You did eccentric exercises, in which you lengthened instead of shortened your muscle (like walking downhill or extending your arm during a bicep curl). These changes to your exercise routine can lead to tiny injuries called microdamage in the muscle fibers and connective tissue. About a day later, you'll start to feel sore. "We call that delayed onset muscle soreness," says Ethel Frese, PT, DPT, CCS, associate professor of Physical Therapy at St. Louis University. "It peaks within about 48 hours, and then it will gradually get better." The good news is that when you do the same activity again, your muscles will start to get used to it. Allan H. Goldfarb, PhD, FACSM, professor and exercise physiologist at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro, says, "You will actually have no soreness or less soreness because now you've strengthened the muscle or connective tissue." What's Causing My Joint Pain?

When your joints feel sore and achy, that's usually a sign of osteoarthritis. This inflammatory condition becomes more common as you get older. The cartilage that normally cushions the joints wears away, leaving the joints inflamed and painful. Joint pain can also be caused by overuse or injury -- for example, tennis elbow or a knee injury caused by a ligament or meniscal problem.

Managing Sore Muscles and Joint Pain

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AAA Treating Sore Muscles and Joint Pain One big question a lot of people have when they're nursing sore muscles is whether to use heat or ice. Experts say indirect ice -- an ice pack wrapped in a thin towel -- is best for immediate relief. "Heat will feel good while it's on, but it's not going to lessen the damage or make it go away anytime soon," Frese says. Goldfarb recommends icing the sore area right after the activity to reduce inflammation then using heat later to increase blood flow to the area. Heat also can help relieve joint pain. If you get sore muscles once in a while, you can take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), or aspirin to help relieve the discomfort. Just be cautious about using NSAIDs regularly. Long-term NSAID use can interfere with your muscles' ability to repair themselves, says Goldfarb. Check with your doctor or pharmacist about any interactions these over-the-counter drugs may have with other medications you take. People with a history of certain medical conditions (such as ulcers, kidney disease, and liver disease) may be advised to avoid some medications. Sometimes soothing sore muscles requires more than an ice pack or over-the-counter pain reliever. Muscle pain that comes on quickly and feels intense is a sign that you've injured yourself. Call your doctor if your pain is severe or lasts for more than a few days. How Do I Prevent Sore Muscles and Joint Pain? Experts used to recommend stretching before a workout to prevent sore muscles. Yet research has shown that stretching ahead of time doesn't do much to prevent soreness or injury. Frese says it's actually better to get in a good warm-up before you exercise and save the stretching for afterward, when your muscles are already warm. A couple of natural substances have been touted for preventing sore muscles, including antioxidants like vitamin C. But check with your doctor before taking high doses of any vitamin. Serious exercisers might find relief from post-workout soreness by beefing up on protein. A study of marines found that taking protein supplements reduced sore muscles after intense exercise. Ease Into Exercise and Check With Your Doctor One of the best ways to prevent sore muscles is by easing your way into your exercise routine. "Start off with lighter exercise and gradually build up. Then you're much less likely to cause the microtrauma," Frese says. Goldfarb recommends increasing your exertion level by only about 10% at a time.

If you have a medical condition or youre unsure about your health, check with your doctor before starting an exercise program. Your doctor can help you find an exercise program thats safe and effective for you. When you have joint pain, you may be tempted to curl up in bed. Actually, though, one of the best things you can do for your joints is to exercise. "Our joints need to move to get nutrition," Frese says. Weight-bearing exercises can help strengthen the muscles that support the joint. Just watch that you don't exercise to the point of pain. It also can help to work with a physical therapist, who can show you how to exercise safely and how to maintain good posture so that you don't get injured or worsen joint pain.

http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/art-sore-muscles-joint-pain

Muscle Strain
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AAA Muscle Strain Overview Muscle strain -- or muscle pull or even a muscle tear -- implies damage to a muscle or its attaching tendons. You can put undue pressure on muscles during the course of normal daily activities, with sudden heavy lifting, during sports, or while performing work tasks. Muscle damage can be in the form of tearing (part or all) of the muscle fibers and the tendons attached to the muscle. The tearing of the muscle can also damage small blood vessels, causing local bleeding (bruising) and pain (caused by irritation of the nerve endings in the area).

Muscle Strain Symptoms Swelling, bruising or redness, or open cuts due to the injury Pain at rest Pain when the specific muscle or the joint in relation to that muscle is used Weakness of the muscle or tendons (A sprain, in contrast, is an injury to a joint and its ligaments.) Inability to use the muscle at all

When to Seek Medical Care If you have a significant muscle injury (or if home remedies bring no relief in 24 hours), call your doctor. If you hear a "popping" sound with the injury, cannot walk, or there is significant swelling, pain, fever, or open cuts, you should be examined in a hospital's emergency department.

Exams and Tests The doctor will take a medical history and perform a physical exam. During the exam, its important to establish whether the muscle is partially or completely torn (which can involve a much longer healing process, possible surgery, and a more complicated recovery). X-rays or lab tests are often not necessary, unless there was a history of trauma or evidence of infection.

Muscle Strain Treatment Self-Care at Home The amount of swelling or local bleeding into the muscle (from torn blood vessels) can best be managed early by applying ice packs and maintaining the strained muscle in a stretched position. Heat can be applied when the swelling has lessened. However, the early application of heat can increase swelling and pain. Note: Ice or heat should not be applied to bare skin. Always use a protective covering such as a towel between the ice or heat and the skin. Take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as aspirin or ibuprofento reduce pain and improve your ability to move around. Do not take NSAIDS if you have kidney disease, a history of gastrointestinal bleeding, or are also taking a blood thinner -- such as Coumadin -- without first talking with your doctor. In that case, it is safer to take acetaminophen, which helps lessen pain but does not reduce inflammation. Protection, rest, ice, compression, and elevation (known as the PRICE formula) can help the affected muscle. Here's how: First, remove all constrictive clothing, including jewelry, in the area of muscle strain. Then: Protect the strained muscle from further injury. Rest the strained muscle. Avoid the activities that caused the strain and other activities that are painful. Ice the muscle area (20 minutes every hour while awake). Ice is a very effective anti-inflammatory and pain-reliever. Small ice packs, such as packages of frozen vegetables or water frozen in foam coffee cups, applied to the area may help decrease inflammation. Compression can be a gently applied with an Ace or other elastic bandage, which can provide both support and decrease swelling. Do not wrap tightly. Elevate the injured area to decrease swelling. Prop up a strained leg muscle while sitting, for example. Activities that increase muscle pain or work the affected body part are not recommended until the pain has significantly improved.

Muscle Strain
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AAA Muscle Strain Overview Muscle strain -- or muscle pull or even a muscle tear -- implies damage to a muscle or its attaching tendons. You can put undue pressure on muscles during the course of normal daily activities, with sudden heavy lifting, during sports, or while performing work tasks.

Muscle damage can be in the form of tearing (part or all) of the muscle fibers and the tendons attached to the muscle. The tearing of the muscle can also damage small blood vessels, causing local bleeding (bruising) and pain (caused by irritation of the nerve endings in the area).

Muscle Strain Symptoms Swelling, bruising or redness, or open cuts due to the injury Pain at rest Pain when the specific muscle or the joint in relation to that muscle is used Weakness of the muscle or tendons (A sprain, in contrast, is an injury to a joint and its ligaments.) Inability to use the muscle at all

When to Seek Medical Care If you have a significant muscle injury (or if home remedies bring no relief in 24 hours), call your doctor. If you hear a "popping" sound with the injury, cannot walk, or there is significant swelling, pain, fever, or open cuts, you should be examined in a hospital's emergency department.

Exams and Tests The doctor will take a medical history and perform a physical exam. During the exam, its important to establish whether the muscle is partially or completely torn (which can involve a much longer healing process, possible surgery, and a more complicated recovery). X-rays or lab tests are often not necessary, unless there was a history of trauma or evidence of infection.

Muscle Strain Treatment Self-Care at Home

The amount of swelling or local bleeding into the muscle (from torn blood vessels) can best be managed early by applying ice packs and maintaining the strained muscle in a stretched position. Heat can be applied when the swelling has lessened. However, the early application of heat can increase swelling and pain. Note: Ice or heat should not be applied to bare skin. Always use a protective covering such as a towel between the ice or heat and the skin. Take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as aspirin or ibuprofento reduce pain and improve your ability to move around. Do not take NSAIDS if you have kidney disease, a history of gastrointestinal bleeding, or are also taking a blood thinner -- such as Coumadin -- without first talking with your doctor. In that case, it is safer to take acetaminophen, which helps lessen pain but does not reduce inflammation. Protection, rest, ice, compression, and elevation (known as the PRICE formula) can help the affected muscle. Here's how: First, remove all constrictive clothing, including jewelry, in the area of muscle strain. Then: Protect the strained muscle from further injury. Rest the strained muscle. Avoid the activities that caused the strain and other activities that are painful. Ice the muscle area (20 minutes every hour while awake). Ice is a very effective anti-inflammatory and pain-reliever. Small ice packs, such as packages of frozen vegetables or water frozen in foam coffee cups, applied to the area may help decrease inflammation. Compression can be a gently applied with an Ace or other elastic bandage, which can provide both support and decrease swelling. Do not wrap tightly. Elevate the injured area to decrease swelling. Prop up a strained leg muscle while sitting, for example. Activities that increase muscle pain or work the affected body part are not recommended until the pain has significantly improved.

Muscle Strain
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AAA Medical Treatment Medical treatment is similar to the treatment at home. The doctor, however, also can determine the extent of muscle and tendon injury and if crutches or a brace is necessary for healing. The doctor can also determine if you need to restrict your activity, take days off work, and if rehabilitation exercises or physical therapy are required to help you recover. Next Steps Prevention Avoid injury by stretching daily. Stretch after you exercise. Establish a warm-up routine prior to strenuous exercise, such as gently running in place for a couple of minutes. Start an exercise program in consultation with your doctor.

Outlook In most cases, with proper treatment, most people recover completely from muscle strain. More complicated cases should be handled by a doctor.
Further Reading:

Slideshow: Care and pain relief for bumps, bruises, sprains, and strains Slideshow: 7 Risky Exercises and Better Bets Fibromyalgia Health Check - Take the WebMD Fibromyalgia Symptom Assessment What factors cause overuse injuries? Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness Managing Sore Muscles and Aches and Pains Rhabdomyolysis: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments See All Muscle Soreness Topics

http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/guide/muscle-strain

Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injury

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AAA The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) is a ligament within the knee. Ligaments are tough bands of tissue that connect bones. The PCL -- similar to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) -- connects the thigh bone (femur) to your shin bone (tibia). Although it is larger and stronger than the ACL, the PCL can be torn.

PCL tears make up less than 20% of injuries to knee ligaments. Injuries that tear the PCL often damage some of the other ligaments or cartilage in the knee, as well. In some cases, the ligament can also break loose a piece of underlying bone. Causes of PCL Injuries PCL injuries are often due to a blow to the knee while it's bent. Common causes include: Striking the knee against the dashboard during an auto accident Falling on the knee while it's bent Sports are a common cause of PCL injury. These injuries are especially common in: football soccer baseball skiing An injury to the PCL can cause mild to severe damage. Doctors classify PCL injuries in these groups: Grade I: The PCL has a partial tear. Grade II: The ligament is partially torn and is looser than in Grade I.

Grade III: The ligament is completely torn and the knee becomes unstable. Grade IV: The PCL is damaged along with another ligament in the knee. PCL problems can be acute or chronic. Acute PCL problems are due to a sudden injury. Chronic PCL problems involve an injury that develops over time. Symptoms of PCL Injury Most people don't feel or hear a "popping" sensation in the knee after a PCL injury. This is more common with an injury to the ACL. After a PCL injury, people often think they only have a minor knee problem. They may try to go on with their usual activities. However, symptoms that can develop include:

Swelling (mild to severe) Knee pain Wobbly sensation in the knee Trouble walking or bearing weight on the knee Over time, a PCL tear can lead to osteoarthritis in the knee.

Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injury

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AAA Diagnosing PCL Problems To diagnose a PCL injury, a doctor may take these steps: History. Your doctor will ask what you were doing when the injury occurred, such as traveling in a car or playing a sport. He or she will also ask: If your knee was bent, straight, or twisted when it was injured How your knee felt after the injury If you've had any symptoms since you were injured Physical examination. In a common test for PCL injuries, you lie on your back with your knee bent. Your doctor then examines your knee and presses against your upper shin. Abnormal knee movement during this test suggests a PCL injury. You may also be checked with a device called an arthrometer. This presses against your leg to measure the ligament's tightness. Your doctor may also ask you to walk. An abnormal walking motion may point to a PCL injury. Imaging. X-rays can provide information about a PCL injury. They can detect pieces of bone that may have broken loose from the injury. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a common way to create images of a PCL tear. An MRI can find the exact location of a tear.

Home Treatment of a Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injury For initial treatment of a PCL injury, the approach known as PRICE may be helpful. This includes: Protecting the knee from further injury Resting the knee Icing the knee for short periods with cold packs Compressing the knee gently, such as with an elastic bandage Elevating the knee A pain-relieving medication may also be needed for knee pain. Nonsurgical Treatment of Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injury You can recover from some posterior cruciate ligament injuries without surgery. Cases that may not require surgery include: Acute grade I or II injuries when no other knee ligaments are injured Newly diagnosed chronic injuries that only affect the PCL and aren't causing symptoms Some people need to go through physical therapy after a PCL injury. This rehabilitation may be necessary with or without surgery. Rehabilitation may include: Using crutches at first, then gradually walking with more weight on the knee Having a machine or therapist move your leg through its range of motion Temporarily wearing a knee brace for support Strengthening your thigh muscles to help make the knee more stable Walking or running in a pool or on a treadmill Specific training needed for a sport

Surgery for Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Patients who may be more likely to need surgery include those who have: PCL injuries in which pieces of bone have torn off and become loose Injuries involving more than one ligament Chronic PCL looseness that causes symptoms, especially in athletes If a piece of bone is torn off, a surgeon may fasten the bone back into place using a screw. Surgery for a torn PCL requires replacing it with new tissue rather than stitching together the torn ligament. The ligament may be replaced with: Tissue from a deceased donor Piece of tendon moved from somewhere else in the body, such as the back of the thigh or heel The operation is sometimes done as an "open" surgery. This requires a large incision in the knee. A less-invasive option involves a tool called an arthroscope. The surgeon uses smaller incisions.

http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/posterior-cruciate-ligament-injury