“Tendon-muscle” injuries are in the first place among “sports injury” admissions to emergency services and it is accepted that they constitute 30% of all admissions. They are followed by injuries such as fractures, skin lesions-contusions and burns in the order of admission.

Pay Attention to These Complaints about Sports Injuries!

Regionally, ankle injuries come first, followed by finger and facial injuries. Ankle injuries account for 12% of all injuries. If the foot cannot be used for taking a step after an ankle injury, if there is severe pain-swelling, numbness, or bruising, if joint integrity is impaired and instability is present, a doctor should be consulted and professional help should be sought.

How are Sports Injuries Treated?

The first step of first aid and emergency treatment is rest, ice application, compressive bandage, and elevation of the injured extremity.

Tendon injuries are also an important topic in sports injuries, and most frequently Achilles tendon problems are observed.

The Achilles tendon is the strongest in the body, extending from the back of the knee to the back of the heel bone. Since it is observed in a wide range from tendonitis to complete tears, there are different treatment options from conservative treatments to surgical applications.

Cramps and muscle spasms are very common in sportive activities, their exact cause is not known although they are so common, and it is accepted that they may develop due to strain-fatigue of the muscles, lack of training-conditioning, dehydration, electrolyte deficiency, or overload of muscles without warm-up. Although cramps are very painful conditions that develop suddenly, you should be calm when they occur, it should be known that they will regress spontaneously, and stretching the muscle that has undergone spasm accelerates recovery.

The most common complaint in runners and amateur running sports is "knee pain", often accompanied by pain, swelling, and increased complaints when going up and down stairs. Running creates a problem in the knee cartilage, which is forced by loads several times the body weight, and it needs evaluation and treatment by an orthopedist.

In order to prevent this situation, which is defined as "runner's knee", choosing "sports shoes and the floor on which sports are performed" is important. In addition, strengthening of the muscles around the knee and stretching exercises should be done. It is important to warm up and stretch the muscles before starting the run, and to "cool down" after the run. The training distance should also be increased gradually, for example, a 10% increase in distance may be recommended once a week.

The foot problem known as plantar fasciitis is also common in runners.

Besides, runners, dancers, jumpers, and aerobic exercisers experience pain in the front of the legs, which requires professional medical diagnosis and treatment. In this condition, which is called shin splint, low vitamin D levels are observed in some cases, but its exact cause is unknown.

"Back problems" are encountered most commonly in golf and weightlifting athletes, as both of them overload the waist region during sportive activities.It is believed that athletes' problems such as tennis and golfer's elbow, runner's knee, and shin splints develop due to "overloads". Solving these chronic problems requires specialist support.

While the most common knee injuries are medial collateral and cruciate ligament injuries in skiers, “snowboard” injuries are encountered in the hand and wrist.

The most serious and fatal sports injuries are “head injuries” and it is observed that they are most frequently encountered in those who engage in bicycle and motorcycle sports. It is possible to prevent 85% of these serious injuries with the use of appropriate helmets and headgear.

Before the start of sports activities, the "lung respiratory capacity" is increased, the muscles are prepared for challenging exercises, their temperature is increased, and also blood circulation is adjusted, with applications similar to the sport to be done, known as "warm-up", but with lower intensity. In this way, sports injuries should be tried to be prevented. Muscle stretching exercises should be done after the completion of the exercise, there is no scientific evidence that stretching before training prevents sports injuries, but stretching exercises are important, either after the training or before the training, and complete warm-up and then stretching should be done.

Precautions to Be Taken to Prevent Sports Injuries

• Excessive activities and repetitive strains should be avoided,
• Attention should be paid to the “warm-up” period before training or activity,
• Stretching exercises should be done after this warm-up and after training,
• It is important to choose shoes and renew them before they wear out too much,
• Floor selection is important,
• It is important to have a balanced diet, rest regularly, not be dehydrated, and pay attention to the electrolyte balance,
• The level and duration of exercise should be increased gradually.

Diagnosis and treatment of sports injuries requires teamwork, it would be appropriate to have Orthopedics and Traumatology Specialists, Sports Physicians, Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Specialists, Physiotherapists, and other specialists related to the injured organ and tissue in the team.