Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCommon Sports InjuriesCausesSymptomsWhen to See a Healthcare ProviderDiagnosisTreatment

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Common Sports Injuries

Causes

Symptoms

When to See a Healthcare Provider

Diagnosis

Treatment

Whether you’re an elite athlete or a weekend warrior, if you play sports, you’ve probably faced an injury at some point. Common sports injuries include sprains, strains, bruised muscles, shin splints, rotator cuff injuries, knee injuries, fractures, and dislocations.

Some sports problems are acute injuries, the result of a sudden event that causes very noticeable symptoms. Others are chronic oroveruse conditionsthat may have a specific pain-causing event but have pain that persists over a longer duration of time.

This article discusses common types of sports injuries and how they happen. It also covers how sports injuries are diagnosed and treated.

1:18Watch Now: How to Treat a Sports Injury with R.I.C.E. Technique

1:18

Watch Now: How to Treat a Sports Injury with R.I.C.E. Technique

Muscle sprains and strains, tears of the ligaments and tendons, dislocated joints, fractured bones, and head injuries are all common injuries when playing sports.

While joints are most vulnerable to sports injuries, any body part can get hurt on the court or field. Here is a closer look at common injuries for different parts of the body.

Repeated concussions may sometimes lead to long-term problems, including mental health issues, behavioral disorders, learning difficulties, and memory issues.

How Long Do Concussion Symptoms Last? Key Signs to Watch For

Shoulder

The most common source ofshoulder painis the rotator cuff area. Conditions include tendonitis (pain of the tendon, the connective tissue that connects muscle to bone), muscle or tendon tears, bursitis (aggravation of a bursa or fluid cushion), and impingement (pinching of a tendon or bursa).

Other possible causes of pain include biceps tendonitis,labral injuries(injuries to the thick piece of tissue within the shoulder joint), and acromioclavicular joint pain.

Elbow

Tendon problems around the elbow, includinglateralepicondylitis(tennis elbow) andmedial epicondylitis(golfer’s elbow), are the most common sports-related problems of the elbow joint.

Wrist

Wrist fractures are among the most common broken bones in athletes. Landing from a fall onto an outstretched arm, for example, can lead to a wrist fracture that requires treatment.

Other Possible Causes of Wrist Pain

Finger

Sports-relatedfinger injuriesinclude fractures, dislocation of finger joints, and tendon injuries. They are especially common in ball sports like basketball and soccer.

Back

Hip and Groin

Groin strainsor pulls have always been a common hip pain diagnosis.Other causes of hip and groin pain include muscle and tendon strains, tendonitis,iliotibial band pain,femoroacetabular impingement(FAI)(abnormal shape of bones of hip joint leads to pain),labral tears. and athletic pubalgia.

Lower Back and Hip Pain: What’s Causing It?

Thigh

A muscle strain, pull, or tear can occur in the hamstring, quadriceps, and adductor muscles in the thigh from a variety of different sports.Hamstringsand quadriceps are particularly at risk during high-speed activities like track and field, football, basketball, and soccer. The injury occurs when the muscle is stretched beyond its limit, tearing the muscle fibers.

Knee

Patellofemoralpain syndromeis a common cause of pain in the front of the knee, around or under the kneecap, and sometimes a grinding sensation may be felt. Therapeutic exercises are almost always used in treatment, and other types of treatment may also be included.

Possible Causes of Knee Pain

Ankle

Plantar fasciitisinvolves irritation of the thick, tough tissue that creates the arch of the foot. This plantar fascia tissue can become contracted and painful, leading to difficulty stepping on the heel of the foot.

Possible Causes of Foot Pain

How Sports Injuries Happen

Sports injuries typically fall into two categories, acute or chronic, and can stem from a variety of causes.

What Are the Signs of a Sports Injury?

Sports injury symptoms can come on quickly at the point of injury or may appear gradually over the course of a few hours or days. When an athlete takes a hard fall, rolls an ankle, or gets otherwise banged up, the typical response is to shake it off and push through the pain, which can lead to longer-term problems.

Symptoms from a chronic or overuse injury tend to develop over time. However, acute flare-ups of old injuries can be common. Symptoms of a sports injury include the following.

Pain

Pain is the primary symptom of a sports injury. It is the body’s signal that something is wrong and can differ based on the type of injury.

Other times, pain onset is delayed. This is particularly common in overuse injuries. A joint may feel a little tender immediately after a sport, but the pain continues to intensify over the course of hours. Tenderness when pressure is applied to the area can be an important indicator that a serious injury has occurred.

The location of the discomfort, the depth of pain, and a description of the type of pain you are experiencing can help your healthcare provider determine the possible cause.

Swelling

Swelling is a sign of inflammation, which is your body’s effort to respond to injury and initiate the healing response. While swelling is not necessarily a bad thing, it can cause discomfort.

In the very early stages after injury, you may not notice swelling or any restriction in your ability to move. Swelling often occurs gradually as healing blood and fluid are sent to protect and heal damaged tissue or bone.

What you experience can tip your healthcare provider off as to the type of injury you have.There are a few types of swelling.

Stiffness

Instability

An unstable joint feels loose or like it wants tobuckleor give out. This is often a sign of a ligament injury (like anACL tear), as the injured joint is not adequately supported after it has been damaged.

Weakness

Numbness and Tingling

Redness

Confusion or Headache

Even a mild head trauma can lead to a concussion, which can result in cognitive symptoms, such as confusion, difficulty concentrating, and memory problems, as well as headache, dizziness, nausea, and irritability.

A concussion can have serious consequences and should not be ignored. If a blow to the head causes any immediate or delayed symptoms (may take up to 2 to 3 days to develop), or loss of consciousness, seek medical attention, even if the symptoms pass.

Sports injuries are common, and seeing a healthcare provider for every ache and pain is not necessary or practical for most athletes. If you have an injury that is not improving with simple treatment steps, however, or if it is worsening despite your efforts, see a trained professional.

How Sports Injuries Are Diagnosed

You will need to provide a medical history and information about how the injury occurred, and undergo a physical examination.

During the physical examination, your healthcare professional will palpate or touch the area and ask about the degree of pain or tenderness. You will be asked to move the injured area to test its range of motion as well. Additional testing to check strength and flexibility may be done.

Depending on the suspected injury and level of pain or disability, your healthcare provider may take X-rays to rule out any broken bones. While some broken bones are evident on an initial X-ray, some fractures (e.g., a simple fracture of the wrist orhairline fracture in the foot) may not be noticeable until 10 to 14 days later, once healing of the injury has begun.

Additional diagnostic imaging tests may be ordered to determine soft-tissue damage. These may be ordered during the initial visit or after a period of treatment is ineffective, and include the following.

How Sports Injuries Are Treated

Your course of treatment will depend on the location and severity of your injury. Initial treatment for many sports injuries is aimed at controlling inflammation and promoting the healing response.

The acronymR.I.C.E.is a helpful guide for the immediate treatment of most acute injuries. When performing R.I.C.E. treatment, you will take the following steps:

Using P.O.L.I.C.E. in Injury Recovery

After the initial healing period, your healthcare provider will determine what, if any, additional treatment is needed and may refer you to a specialist for your specific injury.

Treatments for sports injuries include:

Summary

Some symptoms of sports injuries include pain, swelling, stiffness, redness or discoloration, confusion, or headache. See your healthcare provider if you have a severe sports injury, one that isn’t improving, or if you have any type of head injury.

Treatment for acute injuries may include the R.I.C.E. protocol (rest, ice, compress, and elevate). Other treatments may include splints, braces, pain medications, physical therapy, and surgery.

18 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mizobuchi Y, Nagahiro S.A Review of Sport-Related Head Injuries.Korean J Neurotrauma. 2016;12(1):1-5. doi:10.13004/kjnt.2016.12.1.1.Linaker CH, Walker-bone K.Shoulder disorders and occupation.Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol.2015;29(3):405-23. doi:10.1016/j.berh.2015.04.001UpToDate.Patient education: elbow tendinopathy (tennis and golf elbow).Avery DM, Rodner CM, Edgar CM.Sports-related wrist and hand injuries: a review.J Orthop Surg Res.2016;11(1):99. doi:10.1186/s13018-016-0432-8National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Low Back Pain Fact Sheet.Munegato D, Bigoni M, Gridavilla G, Olmi S, Cesana G, Zatti G.Sports hernia and femoroacetabular impingement in athletes: A systematic review.World J Clin Cases.2015;3(9):823-30. doi:10.12998/wjcc.v3.i9.823American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: OrthoInfo.Muscle Strains in the Thigh.Halabchi F, Abolhasani M, Mirshahi M, Alizadeh Z.Patellofemoral pain in athletes: clinical perspectives.Open Access J Sports Med.2017;8:189-203. doi:10.2147/OAJSM.S127359Mcgovern RP, Martin RL.Managing ankle ligament sprains and tears: current opinion.Open Access J Sports Med.2016;7:33-42. doi:10.2147/OAJSM.S72334Petraglia F, Ramazzina I, Costantino C.Plantar fasciitis in athletes: diagnostic and treatment strategies. a systematic review.Muscles Ligaments Tendons J.2017;7(1):107-118. doi:10.11138/mltj/2017.7.1.107American Academy of Family Physicians.Common Sports Injuries.Fernandes TL, Pedrinelli A, Hernandez AJ.MUSCLE INJURY - PHYSIOPATHOLOGY, DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT AND CLINICAL PRESENTATION.Rev Bras Ortop.2011;46(3):247-55. doi:10.1016/S2255-4971(15)30190-7Evans J, Nielson Jl.Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Knee Injuries. StatPearls Publishing.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Sports Injuries.Martin R, Martin HD, Kivlan BR.NERVE ENTRAPMENT IN THE HIP REGION: CURRENT CONCEPTS REVIEW.Int J Sports Phys Ther.2017;12(7):1163-1173.Crema MD, Yamada AF, Guermazi A, Roemer FW, Skaf AY.Imaging techniques for muscle injury in sports medicine and clinical relevance.Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2015;8(2):154–161. doi:10.1007/s12178-015-9260-4Van den bekerom MP, Struijs PA, Blankevoort L, Welling L, Van dijk CN, Kerkhoffs GM.What is the evidence for rest, ice, compression, and elevation therapy in the treatment of ankle sprains in adults?J Athl Train.2012;47(4):435-43. doi:10.4085/1062-6050-47.4.14Bleakley CM,Glasgow P, MacAuley DC.PRICE needs updating, should we call the POLICE?Br J Sports Med.2012 Mar;46(4):220-1. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2011-090297

18 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mizobuchi Y, Nagahiro S.A Review of Sport-Related Head Injuries.Korean J Neurotrauma. 2016;12(1):1-5. doi:10.13004/kjnt.2016.12.1.1.Linaker CH, Walker-bone K.Shoulder disorders and occupation.Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol.2015;29(3):405-23. doi:10.1016/j.berh.2015.04.001UpToDate.Patient education: elbow tendinopathy (tennis and golf elbow).Avery DM, Rodner CM, Edgar CM.Sports-related wrist and hand injuries: a review.J Orthop Surg Res.2016;11(1):99. doi:10.1186/s13018-016-0432-8National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Low Back Pain Fact Sheet.Munegato D, Bigoni M, Gridavilla G, Olmi S, Cesana G, Zatti G.Sports hernia and femoroacetabular impingement in athletes: A systematic review.World J Clin Cases.2015;3(9):823-30. doi:10.12998/wjcc.v3.i9.823American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: OrthoInfo.Muscle Strains in the Thigh.Halabchi F, Abolhasani M, Mirshahi M, Alizadeh Z.Patellofemoral pain in athletes: clinical perspectives.Open Access J Sports Med.2017;8:189-203. doi:10.2147/OAJSM.S127359Mcgovern RP, Martin RL.Managing ankle ligament sprains and tears: current opinion.Open Access J Sports Med.2016;7:33-42. doi:10.2147/OAJSM.S72334Petraglia F, Ramazzina I, Costantino C.Plantar fasciitis in athletes: diagnostic and treatment strategies. a systematic review.Muscles Ligaments Tendons J.2017;7(1):107-118. doi:10.11138/mltj/2017.7.1.107American Academy of Family Physicians.Common Sports Injuries.Fernandes TL, Pedrinelli A, Hernandez AJ.MUSCLE INJURY - PHYSIOPATHOLOGY, DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT AND CLINICAL PRESENTATION.Rev Bras Ortop.2011;46(3):247-55. doi:10.1016/S2255-4971(15)30190-7Evans J, Nielson Jl.Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Knee Injuries. StatPearls Publishing.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Sports Injuries.Martin R, Martin HD, Kivlan BR.NERVE ENTRAPMENT IN THE HIP REGION: CURRENT CONCEPTS REVIEW.Int J Sports Phys Ther.2017;12(7):1163-1173.Crema MD, Yamada AF, Guermazi A, Roemer FW, Skaf AY.Imaging techniques for muscle injury in sports medicine and clinical relevance.Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2015;8(2):154–161. doi:10.1007/s12178-015-9260-4Van den bekerom MP, Struijs PA, Blankevoort L, Welling L, Van dijk CN, Kerkhoffs GM.What is the evidence for rest, ice, compression, and elevation therapy in the treatment of ankle sprains in adults?J Athl Train.2012;47(4):435-43. doi:10.4085/1062-6050-47.4.14Bleakley CM,Glasgow P, MacAuley DC.PRICE needs updating, should we call the POLICE?Br J Sports Med.2012 Mar;46(4):220-1. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2011-090297

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Mizobuchi Y, Nagahiro S.A Review of Sport-Related Head Injuries.Korean J Neurotrauma. 2016;12(1):1-5. doi:10.13004/kjnt.2016.12.1.1.Linaker CH, Walker-bone K.Shoulder disorders and occupation.Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol.2015;29(3):405-23. doi:10.1016/j.berh.2015.04.001UpToDate.Patient education: elbow tendinopathy (tennis and golf elbow).Avery DM, Rodner CM, Edgar CM.Sports-related wrist and hand injuries: a review.J Orthop Surg Res.2016;11(1):99. doi:10.1186/s13018-016-0432-8National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Low Back Pain Fact Sheet.Munegato D, Bigoni M, Gridavilla G, Olmi S, Cesana G, Zatti G.Sports hernia and femoroacetabular impingement in athletes: A systematic review.World J Clin Cases.2015;3(9):823-30. doi:10.12998/wjcc.v3.i9.823American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: OrthoInfo.Muscle Strains in the Thigh.Halabchi F, Abolhasani M, Mirshahi M, Alizadeh Z.Patellofemoral pain in athletes: clinical perspectives.Open Access J Sports Med.2017;8:189-203. doi:10.2147/OAJSM.S127359Mcgovern RP, Martin RL.Managing ankle ligament sprains and tears: current opinion.Open Access J Sports Med.2016;7:33-42. doi:10.2147/OAJSM.S72334Petraglia F, Ramazzina I, Costantino C.Plantar fasciitis in athletes: diagnostic and treatment strategies. a systematic review.Muscles Ligaments Tendons J.2017;7(1):107-118. doi:10.11138/mltj/2017.7.1.107American Academy of Family Physicians.Common Sports Injuries.Fernandes TL, Pedrinelli A, Hernandez AJ.MUSCLE INJURY - PHYSIOPATHOLOGY, DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT AND CLINICAL PRESENTATION.Rev Bras Ortop.2011;46(3):247-55. doi:10.1016/S2255-4971(15)30190-7Evans J, Nielson Jl.Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Knee Injuries. StatPearls Publishing.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Sports Injuries.Martin R, Martin HD, Kivlan BR.NERVE ENTRAPMENT IN THE HIP REGION: CURRENT CONCEPTS REVIEW.Int J Sports Phys Ther.2017;12(7):1163-1173.Crema MD, Yamada AF, Guermazi A, Roemer FW, Skaf AY.Imaging techniques for muscle injury in sports medicine and clinical relevance.Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2015;8(2):154–161. doi:10.1007/s12178-015-9260-4Van den bekerom MP, Struijs PA, Blankevoort L, Welling L, Van dijk CN, Kerkhoffs GM.What is the evidence for rest, ice, compression, and elevation therapy in the treatment of ankle sprains in adults?J Athl Train.2012;47(4):435-43. doi:10.4085/1062-6050-47.4.14Bleakley CM,Glasgow P, MacAuley DC.PRICE needs updating, should we call the POLICE?Br J Sports Med.2012 Mar;46(4):220-1. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2011-090297

Mizobuchi Y, Nagahiro S.A Review of Sport-Related Head Injuries.Korean J Neurotrauma. 2016;12(1):1-5. doi:10.13004/kjnt.2016.12.1.1.

Linaker CH, Walker-bone K.Shoulder disorders and occupation.Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol.2015;29(3):405-23. doi:10.1016/j.berh.2015.04.001

UpToDate.Patient education: elbow tendinopathy (tennis and golf elbow).

Avery DM, Rodner CM, Edgar CM.Sports-related wrist and hand injuries: a review.J Orthop Surg Res.2016;11(1):99. doi:10.1186/s13018-016-0432-8

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Low Back Pain Fact Sheet.

Munegato D, Bigoni M, Gridavilla G, Olmi S, Cesana G, Zatti G.Sports hernia and femoroacetabular impingement in athletes: A systematic review.World J Clin Cases.2015;3(9):823-30. doi:10.12998/wjcc.v3.i9.823

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: OrthoInfo.Muscle Strains in the Thigh.

Halabchi F, Abolhasani M, Mirshahi M, Alizadeh Z.Patellofemoral pain in athletes: clinical perspectives.Open Access J Sports Med.2017;8:189-203. doi:10.2147/OAJSM.S127359

Mcgovern RP, Martin RL.Managing ankle ligament sprains and tears: current opinion.Open Access J Sports Med.2016;7:33-42. doi:10.2147/OAJSM.S72334

Petraglia F, Ramazzina I, Costantino C.Plantar fasciitis in athletes: diagnostic and treatment strategies. a systematic review.Muscles Ligaments Tendons J.2017;7(1):107-118. doi:10.11138/mltj/2017.7.1.107

American Academy of Family Physicians.Common Sports Injuries.

Fernandes TL, Pedrinelli A, Hernandez AJ.MUSCLE INJURY - PHYSIOPATHOLOGY, DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT AND CLINICAL PRESENTATION.Rev Bras Ortop.2011;46(3):247-55. doi:10.1016/S2255-4971(15)30190-7

Evans J, Nielson Jl.Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Knee Injuries. StatPearls Publishing.

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Sports Injuries.

Martin R, Martin HD, Kivlan BR.NERVE ENTRAPMENT IN THE HIP REGION: CURRENT CONCEPTS REVIEW.Int J Sports Phys Ther.2017;12(7):1163-1173.

Crema MD, Yamada AF, Guermazi A, Roemer FW, Skaf AY.Imaging techniques for muscle injury in sports medicine and clinical relevance.Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2015;8(2):154–161. doi:10.1007/s12178-015-9260-4

Van den bekerom MP, Struijs PA, Blankevoort L, Welling L, Van dijk CN, Kerkhoffs GM.What is the evidence for rest, ice, compression, and elevation therapy in the treatment of ankle sprains in adults?J Athl Train.2012;47(4):435-43. doi:10.4085/1062-6050-47.4.14

Bleakley CM,Glasgow P, MacAuley DC.PRICE needs updating, should we call the POLICE?Br J Sports Med.2012 Mar;46(4):220-1. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2011-090297

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