Dr. Ben Wedro practices emergency medicine at Gundersen Clinic, a regional trauma center in La Crosse, Wisconsin. His background includes undergraduate and medical studies at the University of Alberta, a Family Practice internship at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario and residency training in Emergency Medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.
Medical Author: Melissa Conrad St?ppler, MD
Medical Editor: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
Sports injuries refer to the kinds of injury that occur
during sports or exercise. While it is possible to injure any part of the body when playing
sports, the term sports injuries is commonly used to refer to injuries of the
musculoskeletal system.
Some of the most common sports injuries include:
Sprains—tears to the
ligaments that join the ends of bones together. The ankles, knees, and wrists
are commonly affected by sprains.
Strains—pulls or tears
of muscles or tendons (the tissues that attach the muscles to the bones)
"Shin splints"—pain
along the outside front of the lower leg, commonly
seen in runners
Achilles tendonitisor rupture of the Achilles tendon—These injuries involve the large band of tissue that connects the calf muscles
to the heel
Fractures of the bones
Dislocation of joints
Acuteinjuries usually
occur suddenly while participating in sports or exercise. They may result in
sudden and severe pain, the inability to bear weight on a limb, or inability to move the affected part of the body. Chronicinjuries usually result from overuse of one area of the body over a period of
time. Symptoms of chronic injuries include soreness, dull aching pain, and pain
during participation in physical activity.
What is the difference between a sprain and a strain?
A sprain is an injury to ligaments, while a strain is an injury to muscle or tendon tissue.
The purpose of muscles is to allow the body to move. The muscle that you feel underneath your skin is really made up of many smaller bundles of muscle fibers called fascicles. These, in turn, are made up of individual muscle fibers that are linked in a way that allows them to slide together, causing the muscle to shorten, or to slide apart, allowing the muscle to lengthen.
Muscles attach to bone directly or with a tendon. The transition of muscle to tendon happens gradually as muscle fibers give way to tendon fibers before the bony attachment occurs. Depending upon their location in the body, the tendon portion may be very short or very long. The muscle tendon unit attaches on each side of a joint so that when the muscle contracts, it shortens and pulls on the tendon, making the joint go through its range of motion.
A strain is damage caused by an overstretched muscle or tendon, causing their fibers to be pulled apart and lose the ability to contract. The severity of injury depends upon the amount of tissue that is damaged. It may be stretched or even torn. The most common cause of the injury is overuse, which weakens the muscle. Muscles and joints are forced to perform movements for which they are not prepared or designed. An injury can occur from a single stressful incident, or it may gradually arise after many repetitions of a motion. The damage can occur in three areas: the muscle itself, the muscle tendon intersection, or the tendon itself. Strains are described by the severity of damage in three grades.
Grade 1 strains usually cause stretching of a few of the muscle fibers. Grade 2 injury is more significant damage. Grade 3 injury is a complete rupture of the muscle.
Joints are stabilized by thick bands of tissue called ligaments which surround them. These ligaments allow the joint to move only in specific directions. Some joints move in multiple planes; therefore, they need more than one group of ligaments to hold the joint in proper alignment. The ligaments are anchored to bone on each side of the joint. If a ligament is stretched or torn, the injury is called a sprain.
The grading system for sprain injury is similar to that of strains. Grade 1 sprains stretch fibers of the ligament. Grade 2 sprains are injuries where part of the ligament is torn. Grade 3 sprains are when the ligament is completely torn or ruptured.
Muscle cramps are involuntarily and forcibly contracted muscles that do not relax. Extremely common, any muscles that have voluntary control, including some organs, are subject to cramp. Since there is such variety in the types of muscle cramps that can occur, many causes and preventative medications are known. Stretching is the most common way to stop or prevent most muscle cramps.
The knee joint is composed of three compartments and ligaments which stabilize the joint. Causes of knee pain may include injury, degeneration, infrequently infection and rarely bone tumors. Although routine x-rays do not revel meniscus tears, they can be used to exclude other problems of the bones and tissues. The knee joint is the most commonly involved joint in rheumatic disease, as well as immune diseases that affect various tissues of the body.
Muscle spasms are involuntary muscle contractions that come on suddenly and are usually quite painful. Dehydration, doing strenuous exercise in a hot environment, prolonged muscle use, and certain diseases of the nervous system may cause muscle spasms. Symptoms and signs of a muscle spasm include an acute onset of pain and a possible bulge seen or felt beneath the skin where the muscle is located. Gently stretching the muscle usually resolves a muscle spasm.
Foot pain may be caused by injuries (sprains, strains, bruises, and fractures), diseases (diabetes, Hansen disease, and gout), viruses, fungi, and bacteria (plantar warts and athlete's foot), or even ingrown toenails. Pain and tenderness may be accompanied by joint looseness, swelling, weakness, discoloration, and loss of function. Minor foot pain can usually be treated with rest, ice, compression, and elevation and OTC medications such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Severe pain should be treated by a medical professional.
Ankle pain is commonly due to a sprain or tendinitis. The severity of ankle sprains ranges from mild (which can resolve within 24 hours) to severe (which can require surgical repair). Tendinitis of the ankle can be caused by trauma or inflammation.
A broken toe is one of the most common fractures among individuals. There are many causes of a broken toe, whether it is the big toe, middle toes, or little toe (pinky). Common symptoms of a broken toe include pain, swelling, stiffness, and bruising. A broken toe can be treated with buddy taping the toe. There are instances where a physician should be consulted for a broken toe.
Elbow pain is most often the result of tendinitis, which can affect the inner or outer elbow. Treatment includes ice, rest, and medication for inflammation. Inflammation, redness, warmth, swelling, tenderness, and decreased range of motion are other symptoms associated with elbow pain. Treatment for elbow pain depends upon the nature of the patient's underlying disease or condition.
Fractures occur when bone cannot withstand the outside forces applied to the bone. Fractures can be open or closed. Types of fractures include: greenstick, spiral, comminuted, transverse, compound, or vertebral compression. Common fractures include: stress fracture, compression fracture, rib fracture, and skull fracture. Treatment depends upon the type of fracture.
Whiplash is a common injury to a person's neck following a car accident (in most cases). Symptoms include: headache, neck pain, neck and shoulder stiffness, shoulder pain, fatigue, dizziness, jaw pain, arm pain, weakness of the arm(s), visual disturbances, and tinnitus. Diagnosis is generally with a physical exam, x-rays, or possibly an MRI. Treatment generally includes physical therapy and time.
Myofascial pain syndrome is muscle pain in the body's soft tissues due to injury or strain. Symptoms include muscle pain with tender points and fatigue. Treatment usually involves physical therapy, massage therapy, or trigger point injection.
There are several bones in the foot, and these bones can be broken (fractured) in a variety of ways. Falling from heights, dropping heavy objects on the foot, or stress fractures from running or walking. Treatment of a broken foot depends on what bone in the foot is broken.
The time when boys and girls begin the process of sexual maturation is called puberty. During this time, both sexes undergo a series of biological changes that include a rapid increase in height, bone growth, weight increase, the growth of pubic hair, breast development and the onset of menstruation in girls, and testicle, penis, and muscle enlargement in boys.
Growth plate fractures and injuries occur in the area growing tissue near the end of the long bones of children and teens. Both boys and girls are susceptible to growth plate fracture and injury. Common causes include: a fall while playing sports or playing on furniture or playground equipment, overuse injury from sports, injuries from competitive sports, child abuse, frostbite, and juvenile arthritis. Growth plate fracture and injury are classified into five categories according to the Salter-Harris Classification.
Regular physical activity can reduce the risk of disease. Regular exercise can also reduce the symptoms of stress and anxiety. There are fitness programs that fit any age or lifestyle.
A muscle cramp is an involuntarily and forcibly
contracted muscle that does not relax.
Almost everyone experiences a muscle cramp at some
time in their life.
There are a variety of types and causes of muscle
cramps.
Numerous medicines can cause muscle cramps.
Most muscle cramps can be stopped if the muscle can
be stretched.
Muscle cramps can often be prevented by measures such as adequate nutrition and hydration, attention to safety when exercising, and attention to ergonomic factors.
What are muscle cramps?
A muscle cramp is an involuntarily and forcibly contracted muscle that does not relax. When we use the muscles that can be controlled voluntarily, such as those of our arms and legs, they alternately contract and relax as we move our limbs. Muscles that support our head, neck, and tru...
