Sports injuries occur when playing indoor or outdoor sports or while exercising. Sports injuries can result from accidents, inadequate training, improper use of protective devices, or insufficient stretching or warm-up exercises.
An ‘acute’ sports injury is one which happens suddenly, for example by over-stretching a tendon resulting in a sprain or a fracture.
Sports injuries can also be caused by long-term over-use of a group of muscles or joints, for example in activities which involve running. These are known as ‘chronic’ (or long-term) injuries.
Common sports injuries include ankle sprain, hamstring strain, knee injuries (for example ACL tear and patellofemoral syndrome), tennis elbow and shoulder injuries (for example dislocation, rotator cuff tears as well as clavicle fractures and acromioclavicular joint dislocations).
Treatment for sports injuries varies according to the injury type, location and severity. Some injuries may need physiotherapy or surgery while others may only require rest and painkillers.