Sports Injuries

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Summary

Exercising is good for you, but sometimes you can injure yourself when you play sports or exercise. Accidents, poor training practices, or improper gear can cause them. Some people get hurt because they are not in shape. Not warming up or stretching enough can also lead to injuries.

The most common sports injuries are:

Sprains and strains
Knee injuries
Swollen muscles
Achilles tendon injuries
Pain along the shin bone
Rotator cuff injuries
Fractures (broken bones)
Dislocations

If you get hurt, stop playing. Continuing to play or exercise can cause more harm. Treatment often begins with the RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation) method to relieve pain, reduce swelling, and speed healing. Other possible treatments include pain relievers, keeping the injured area from moving, rehabilitation, and sometimes surgery.

NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Start Here

Common Sports Injuries (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
Sports Injuries (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) Also in Spanish

Prevention and Risk Factors

Golf Injury Prevention (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
Sports Safety: MedlinePlus Health Topic (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish

Related Issues

Exercise-Induced Urticaria (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
Knee Bracing: What Works? (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
Venous Thromboembolism and Marathon Athletes (American Heart Association) - PDF

Specifics

Burners (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
Concussion (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
Concussion in Sports (American College of Sports Medicine) - PDF
Foot Health Facts for Athletes (American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons)
Golfer's Elbow (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Hamstring Injury (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
Shin Splints (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
Shoulder Impingement/Rotator Cuff Tendinitis (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
Shoulder Instability (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
Sports Hernia (Athletic Pubalgia) (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
Sprains (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
Stress Fractures (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
Tennis Elbow (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis) (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)

Videos and Tutorials

Concussion (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Statistics and Research

Biomarkers Identified in Collegiate Athletes That Could Help Predict Time Needed to Recover From Concussion (National Institute of Nursing Research)

Clinical Trials

ClinicalTrials.gov: Athletic Injuries (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

Find an Expert

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Also in Spanish

Children

Ear Injuries (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Sever's Disease (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Teenagers

Ankle Sprains (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Dealing with Sports Injuries (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Jumper's Knee (Patellar Tendonitis) (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Quadriceps Contusion (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Runner's Knee (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Sports and Concussions (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Men

Testicular Injuries (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

Achilles tendon repair (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Back pain and sports (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
How to avoid exercise injuries (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Medial epicondylitis - golfer's elbow (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Returning to sports after a back injury (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish