How Athletic Injuries Impact Your Body, Even Years Later

Playing any sport, from baseball to football, comes with a high physical demand that can put you at risk for experiencing athletic injuries. Along with the injury comes the frustration of downtime and rehabilitation to get back to the sport you love. However, you may not be thinking about how your injuries are going to affect you later in life. Many common sports injuries can have long-term impacts on your body, even long after the injury has healed.

Common Sports Injuries

Whether you’re a weekend warrior or a professional athlete, injuries are very common. Some of the most common injuries experienced by athletes include:

• Strains and Sprains (groin pull/sprain, sprained ankle, hamstring strain, hip flexor strain)s
• Patellofemoral Syndromes
• Concussions
• ACL Tears
• Shoulder Injuries (dislocations, sprains and strains, misalignments, ligament tears)s
• Tennis Elbows
• Stress Fractures
• Shin Splints

What Happens if You Don’t Get Sports Injuries Treated

Torn ligaments and cartilage are very common injuries for athletes, and unfortunately, these injuries increase the likelihood that athletes will deal with arthritis as they grow older. When protective cartilage cushioning the bones and joints wear down, bones can rub together, causing arthritis. This results in difficulty moving the joint, swelling, and pain. An ACL tear or other ligament tears can increase the stress on joints, resulting in the earlier onset of arthritis.

Treatments for Athletic Injuries

For common, mild sports injuries, the PRICE method of treatment can help you begin healing faster. This method includes:

P – Protect – Make sure you protect yourself from further injury by keeping the injured area protected by a pad, crutch, or splint.
R – Restrict – Activity needs to be restricted to keep the injury from getting worse.
I – Ice – Apply ice right away. It works as an anti-inflammatory, reducing swelling and inflammation.
C – Compression – Using an elastic bandage for compression can reduce the swelling.
E – Elevation – Keeping the injury elevated above your heart can also reduce the swelling.

While the PRICE method is a great option for common, mild injuries, serious injuries need proper treatment. If you suspect an injury, make sure you’re evaluated by a medical professional. More serious injuries may require treatments like physical therapy, therapeutic treatments, or even surgery if the injury is severe.

Sports injuries don’t just impact your body today – they have the potential to impact your body for life. Make sure you get the best possible treatment immediately to reduce the long-term consequences of athletic injuries. Contact our team at Backfit Health + Spine to schedule your complimentary injury assessment and get back to your healthy self.