Sports Injuries

Sports Injuries

Sports injuries are injuries that occur during exercise or sports activities. They may result from inadequate warm-up or stretching exercises, lack of protective equipment, inappropriate training conditions or methods, and trauma. In general, the most common sports injuries are muscle or ligament injuries.

After minor injuries,

• Rest; Avoid activities that may cause injury.
• Ice; To reduce swelling and pain, you can apply ice to the injured area. Ice should be applied through a towel for 15-20 minutes and should not be in direct contact with the skin.
• Compression; To reduce swelling, the injured area can be wrapped with elastic bandages.
• Elevation; To reduce pain and swelling, the injured area should be elevated above heart level.

Preventive measures against sports injuries;

• An exercise program aimed at strengthening muscles should be implemented
• The exercise level should be gradually increased
• Proper equipment for the sport; footwear suitable for the surface, and protective gear for areas likely to experience trauma (such as mouthguards, knee pads, shin guards) should be used
• Warm-up and cool-down exercises should be performed before and after sports activities. These exercises increase the flexibility of muscles and soft tissues, reducing the risk of injury.
• Avoid exercising or engaging in sports after meals
• Sports activities should be avoided during times of physical fatigue. Individuals who perform intense exercise need rest periods that allow the body to recover. Also, regular consumption of nutrients (such as protein) and minerals needed by the body is essential.

Hip Injuries:

Due to the significant load on the hip joint during sports activities, this joint is prone to various injuries. Muscle injuries around the hip joint are common. Additionally, pathologies such as labral tears and femoroacetabular impingement syndrome can cause hip pain in athletes as a result of sports injuries.

Meniscus Tears:

The menisci are two C-shaped fibrocartilage structures located in the knee joint: the medial (inner) and lateral (outer) menisci.

Meniscus tears are among the most common pathologies seen in the knee joint. Generally, meniscus tears are classified into two types: degenerative (wear-related) and traumatic.

Traumatic tears are more commonly seen in younger to middle-aged patients and occur due to sports injuries. These tears are often accompanied by additional injuries such as anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) or medial collateral ligament (MCL) injuries. The treatment decision is made based on several factors including accompanying injuries, time of onset, location, size, and type of the tear.

In the surgical treatment of meniscus tears, the primary goal is to preserve the meniscus tissue. Accordingly, treatment options include partial meniscectomy (partial removal of the meniscus), meniscus repair, meniscus scaffold (synthetic meniscus tissue), and meniscus transplantation.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injuries:

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a 3-3.5 cm long ligament located in the middle of the knee joint. Its main function is to prevent forward displacement and rotation of the knee.

The ACL is usually injured after a twisting movement of the knee on a fixed foot (indirect trauma). A popping sound may be heard at the time of injury. Swelling and pain due to bleeding in the knee occur in the acute phase, and the athlete is unable to continue the game.

If left untreated in the acute phase, the swelling and pain in the knee may decrease within 2-3 weeks. However, in the chronic phase, particularly during sports activities requiring sudden directional changes such as football or basketball, the patient may experience a sense of instability, weakness, or recurring pain due to repeated twisting. This condition is referred to as ACL insufficiency. New meniscus tears and cartilage injuries may develop in this phase.

Surgical treatment is recommended for active, young patients who wish to continue their sports activities. During surgery, accompanying meniscus tears and cartilage injuries are also treated.