Any sport involving running, jumping and collisions has the potential to put participants at high risk of injury. No matter whether it be professional or recreational play, severe injury could ruin careers and land you in hospital – beware the risks!
Here are the worst sports injuries that could potentially endanger an athlete’s life.
1. ACL Tear
The ACL, or anterior cruciate ligament, is the main ligament used to provide knee stability and can easily become torn when engaging in sports that involve sudden stops, jumps or changes of direction. When this happens, one typically hears or feels a “pop,” followed by swelling and difficulty bearing weight on their leg.
An ACL tear may also damage cartilage and ligaments in the knee, potentially leading to chronic issues.
2. Hamstring Tear
Injury can arise when hamstring muscles (biceps femoris, semitendinosus and semimembranosus) or tendons become overstretched or overloaded, often while sprinting or running during sport activities.
Injurys typically include pain, swelling and tenderness. Mild to moderate strains can usually be treated at home with rest, ice, compression and elevation while complete ruptures require surgical repair and rehabilitation. Furthermore, warming up properly before exercising can greatly decrease injury risks.
3. Patellar Tendon Tear
The patellar tendon works with quadriceps muscles at the front of your knee to straighten it. Small tears or strains in this tendon may respond well to nonsurgical treatment methods like RICE (rest, ice, compression and elevation), over-the-counter pain medications and physical therapy.
An acute tear or rupture often requires surgery and physical therapy in order to restore range of motion in your knee. Diabetes, for instance, weakens patellar tendon strength making it more vulnerable to injury.
4. Compound Fracture
Compound fractures occur when a break pierces through the skin, necessitating medical treatment immediately.
Complications may include infection, swelling (edema) and nerve damage. In severe cases, injured areas may develop compartment syndrome – in which muscle tissue swells so much that it damages and eventually kills the tissues within.
Doctors typically treat injuries with pain relief medications and nerve block medications, ice packs and antibiotics to combat infection. Furthermore, doctors will move broken bones back into a more natural position and immobilize them using rods, plates or screws.
5. Concussion
Concussion is a mild brain injury caused by being hit in the head with enough force that causes spinal fluid to move around inside your brain, protecting it from being hit directly against your skull and potentially “crashing” against it. When struck hard enough, your head could “crash” into it instead, leading to concussion symptoms.
Symptoms can include amnesia, vomiting or nausea, changes in your mood or changes to memory. Seek medical assistance immediately if any of these occur.
6. Hip Flexor Strain
Hip flexor strain is an injury which causes pain in the muscles on the front of the hip and is common among athletes who perform repetitive movements.
Mercy Health primary care or sports medicine doctors can help diagnose hip flexor strain and assess its severity. Stretching and dynamic warm-ups may also prevent injuries in this way.
7. Tennis or Golf Elbow
Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) and golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis) are two tendon injuries caused by irritation to muscles and tendons located on the outside of the forearm, typically seen when engaging in racket sports like tennis, golf and squash. Both forms may also present with pain in other parts of the arm if left untreated for an extended period.
Individuals engaged in manual labor such as plumbers, carpenters, or painters may also experience similar injuries.
8. Patellofemoral Syndrome
If your patella, or kneecap, doesn’t track in its groove on your femur correctly, it can lead to pain. This issue often stems from injuries sustained to the knee, although imbalanced muscles could also play a part.
Treatment includes rest, ice, activity modification and physical therapy as well as medication such as acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to relieve pain.
9. Sciatica
Sports, from baseball to basketball, can put immense physical strain on our bodies – often leading to injuries.
Sciatica is an unpleasant condition characterized by pain, numbness or tingling in your lower back or buttock and radiating down one leg. It typically results from pressure applied by herniated discs in your lumbar spine on nerves that travel down one of your legs causing pressure on these nerves – typically manifested on only one side of the body.
10. Groin Pull
Groin pulls occur when the muscles in your inner thigh become overstretched or torn, leading to painful stretching or tear of these muscle groups. You may also experience bruising and swelling.
Prevent groin strains by warming up before physical activity and gradually increasing intensity, performing regular stretching and strengthening exercises for leg muscles, or consulting a physical therapist who will assess symptoms and provide treatment plans.