Injuries are a common occurrence in any sport. Some people actually define sports as an activity where a participant can get injured, that is, if there is no probability of getting an injury while performing a certain activity, then it cannot be considered as a sport.
Fortunately, the
most frequent sports injuries that are sustained by athletes are quite minor and are easily preventable and treatable. They are usually the result of poor preparation for the sport. In some cases though, they can be the result of the improper use of the right equipment and gear or the use of improper gear for a certain activity.
The ankle sprain is one of the most frequent
sports injuries that athletes can sustain, especially for the part time athletes or the weekend sports buffs. This happens when the ligaments on the joints of a person is stretched beyond its natural limit. An ankle sprain is usually the result when somebody steps on the feet of another competitor while he is running or landing from a jump such as in basketball. For runners, an ankle sprain can occur when they step on uneven terrain during a run on a trail course. It could also happen when they inadvertently step on a piece of jagged rock or broken tree branch while running at a fast pace. Ankle sprains can usually be prevented by stretching the ankle joints before engaging in the sport. This will increase the “stretchability” of the ligaments and will allow them to have a higher stretching limit. Taping the ankles properly before a game can also be a very big help in preventing ankle sprains.
The Shin splint is another sports injury that occurs rather often. It is usually suffered by runners who go out on long, exhaustive runs. The longer there is tension in the legs, the bigger the chance of getting a shin splint. This is because shin splints are caused by the constant and recurring stress that is applied on the leg muscles during prolonged activities that put a certain amount of load on the lower legs. As with ankle sprains, shin splints can usually be prevented by proper stretching and warm up of the muscles before intense engagement in the activity.
ACL injuries, or injuries relating to the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) which is located in the knee, are also commonly suffered by many athletes. This occurs when the athlete inadvertently puts too much pressure on his knees when he abruptly stops from a very fast forward or sideward motion on one foot. This sudden stop puts tremendous stress on the ACLs of the knee because it is the ACLs that keep the knee from over extending the wrong way and it also keep the knees from improperly moving out sideways. For this reason, ACL injuries are usually suffered by athletes who play sports that involve high speeds and sudden stops. This includes sports such as down hill skiing, football, basketball, soccer, BMX biking, and skate boarding.
