Sports Injuries
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What are Sports Injuries?
When you’re active and moving, sports injuries are among the common injuries people face, and the most common sports injuries usually affect the body systems that support motion. Your respiratory and circulatory systems work together to make sure that your body has energy, while your musculoskeletal system supports movement and fluidity. Unfortunately, your musculoskeletal system can be susceptible to injuries if you move the wrong way or push your body’s limits. About 8.6 million people injure themselves playing sports annually. Many sports injuries occur in the joints or muscles, and strains and sprains account for about 40% of sports injuries. In the event of a sports injury, stem cells can be used to regenerate and heal tissues, allowing you to get back to your healthy lifestyle quickly and effectively.
What Causes Sports Injuries?
There can be many different things that cause sports injuries, and understanding the risk factors can help explain why they happen suddenly and painfully. This can occur because of strain, twisting, collision, or many other factors when you’re active. Warming up increases blood flow and flexibility, while cooling down aids recovery after activity. Gradually increasing physical activity intensity and listening to your body can reduce injury risk. Proper protective equipment should be worn during sports, and hydration helps prevent injuries like heat exhaustion. Each injury and its circumstances are unique, so we begin with understanding your anatomy, lifestyle, and symptoms.
Common Sports Injuries
Knee Injuries
The knees are an important support structure that is designed to move effectively and in tandem with your lower body. There are, however, many delicate and important tissues contained within and around your knees, and this subsection covers common knee injuries that can be prone to damage. These can often be extremely painful and inhibit your ability to move freely. Most commonly, injuries occur in the meniscus (cartilage that cushions the contact between the shin and thigh bones), the anterior cruciate ligament (one of four main ligaments that connect the thigh and shin bones, and severe ligament tears can occur here), and the patellar tendon (a tendon responsible for straightening the leg that inserts at the kneecap, helping it track across the knee joint in relation to the thigh bone), as well as runner’s knee.
Meniscus Tears
The meniscus is a C-shaped disk of cartilage that exists between the bones of the knee. It acts as a shock absorber during impact, protecting the bones and joints from damage. In sports, fractures happen too; fractures refer to broken bones or a break caused by force or trauma. Tears in the meniscus can happen during activities that involve twisting or turning the upper leg while the foot is planted. Meniscus tears can be painful and interfere with the normal range of motion of the knee.
ACL Tears
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a strong band of tissue that connects your thigh and shin bones in the knee. ACL tears are common during sports that require a sudden twisting motion and excessive pressure in the knee, like basketball, football, tennis, and skiing. ACL tears can be partial or complete and can take a very long time to heal without intervention. Early treatment should include rest, and rushing recovery can lead to re-injury. Severe knee damage is different from a concussion, which is a serious injury caused by a blow to the head or body. Return to physical activities only after symptoms improve or a clinician clears you.
Jumper’s Knee
Patellar tendonitis, or jumper’s knee, is a condition where the patellar tendon becomes inflamed. The patellar tendon stretches over the front of the kneecap and helps the leg extend. Jumper’s knee is common in athletes who jump often while playing their sport. This type of overuse is common in sports like basketball and volleyball.
Shoulder and Elbow Injuries
Both the shoulder and elbow are responsible for allowing you to effectively move your arms and use your hands. Just like other joints, however, they can be subject to injuries if they are strained, twisted, or overused. Injuries to your shoulders or elbows can limit your ability to accomplish everyday tasks like lifting things or dressing without pain or discomfort. Injuries in the shoulder or elbow can commonly affect areas like the ulnar collateral ligament (a ligament that connects the upper arm to the forearm) and the tendons that support the elbow. Injuries that affect the shoulder can result in conditions like bursitis, where small, fluid-filled sacs that cushion the joint become inflamed and irritated.
Learn more about shoulder pain treatment and how it fits into a personalized treatment plan.
UCL Tear
The ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) is a strong band of tissue that tethers the bones of the arm together at the elbow. UCL tears can happen from overuse in athletes who make a throwing motion often (as in baseball or football) or as a result of falling with an outstretched arm. A UCL tear can cause instability in the arm as it allows the bones to move too much.
Tennis Elbow
Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) is a common sports injury where the tendons that connect the forearm muscles to the elbow are overused – typically because of repetitive motions with the wrist and arm. This causes inflammation that makes it difficult to use a full range of motion. Pain is typically felt on the outside of the elbow, and as the name suggests, it’s common in athletes who play tennis.
Golf Elbow
Golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis), also called golf elbow, is another injury that affects the elbow, typically on the inside. It occurs in the tendons and tissues that attach the muscles of the forearm to the elbow. It’s caused by repetitive motions with the wrist and fingers, especially repetitive gripping motions, causing inflammation and stiffness in the whole lower arm.
Bursitis
In the anatomy of the joint, tiny fluid-filled sacs called bursae are responsible for cushioning the bones, tendons, and muscles. Bursitis is a condition where these sacs become inflamed and cause pain in the joint. It’s most common in joints that experience repetitive motion like the shoulders, knees, elbows, and hips.
Ankle and Foot Injuries
The ankles and feet, like the knees, are subject to injury when you move wrong or put too much weight on one area. Shin splints are common in runners and can cause lower leg pain. This can usually result in sprains and strains that affect the ligaments and tendons, resulting in pain or discomfort during regular movements. Gradually increasing running activities can help prevent shin splints, and shoes with good arch support can reduce pain. This can even mean you have difficulty walking or being on your feet for long periods of time. Ankle and foot injuries aren’t always the result of sports injuries, since spraining or straining your ankle can occur in everyday life events like walking over an uneven path.
Ligament and Tendon Tears
Tears to the ligaments and tendons can be very painful. The most common symptoms of these types of injuries include pain, swelling, and even a feeling of popping or instability. Ligament and tendon tears typically occur during active sports where you make a sudden twisting movement or put too much force on a single joint.
Sprains and Strains
Sprains and strains are some of the most common sports injuries. Sprains are injuries to the connective tissues that hold two bones together. Strains are injuries to the muscles or bands of tissue that connect muscles to bone. Sprains and strains typically happen when the area is overextended by wrenching, twisting, or overuse. Some of the most common sprains and strains happen in areas like the ankles, knees, thumbs, or wrists. A hamstring strain is also common, and proper stretching techniques can help prevent it. A groin strain, also called a groin pull, can cause pain in the groin area along with tenderness and bruising in the inner thigh. When these muscles are injured, early care often includes rest and icing for 48 hours, especially for hip flexor strain.
Learn More About How Stem Cells Can Help
If you live an active lifestyle, then an injury can affect more than just your body. Injuries to important musculoskeletal tissues can require a lot of time and patience when it comes to healing, meaning you’re unable to remain active and healthy. Both stem cells and platelet-rich plasma derived from your own tissues can help to boost your body’s healing and rejuvenation functions through growth factors and tissue regeneration. Learn more about stem cells and platelet-rich plasma.
Sports Injuries FAQs
Can stem cells heal scar tissue?
Can stem cells remove scar tissue?
Can stem cells repair torn ligaments?
Can stem cells repair torn tendons?
Schedule a Consultation
At Axis Stem Cell Institute, we understand that activity and excelling at your sport are both integral parts of your lifestyle. Unfortunately, injuries can inhibit you from chasing your goals and living your best life. We seek to offer the best and latest in sports medicine and regenerative techniques to ensure that you can get back on your feet quickly and without discomfort. It can feel like your only options are therapy and waiting for your body to heal, so we offer the best and most up-to-date information about stem cells and regenerative medicine so you can make the best choice for your health and your body.
We explore regenerative medicine for sports injuries in more depth elsewhere.
Platelet-rich plasma can help your body heal quickly and efficiently using your body’s own functions. Speaking with our stem cell experts is a great first step in learning about your therapeutic options. To schedule a consultation at our Seattle or St. Petersburg office, call 206.823.0960 or fill out our online form.
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Bryn Renda, PA-C is the founder and provider at Axis Stem Cell Institute and a nationally board-certified Physician Assistant specializing in regenerative medicine and stem cell therapy. A retired professional athlete, she began her career helping athletes regain pain-free mobility and function, and now works with patients pursuing whole-body wellness through a naturalistic, holistic approach. She holds national and international certifications in the extraction and application of stem cell therapies, including certification from the International Society for Stem Cell Application, and has practiced in the field for more than five years. She earned her Master of Clinical Medical Sciences and Physician Assistant degree at Barry University and holds active licenses in Washington and Florida.