SPORTS INJURIES

Most sports will engage many muscles, but each activity stresses some joints and muscles more than others. In addition, there are common injuries specific to particular sports. For example, a sport in which an athlete is using there shoulders a lot are more likely to get shoulder injuries, not an ankle injury.

Sports injuries are most commonly caused by poor training methods; structural abnormalities; weakness in muscles, tendons, ligaments; and unsafe exercising environments.

The most common cause of injury is poor training. For example, muscles need 48 hours to recover after a workout. Increasing exercise intensity too quickly and not stopping when pain develops while exercising also causes injury.

  • Direct impact, blow or contact with another player or equipment

  • Previous injury history with existing weakness

  • Overtraining, under conditioning, inadequate warm-up

  • Structural or biomechanical imbalance, joint dysfunction

  • Physical or mental fatigue causing altered movement patterns

  • Increased mental demand, worry, stress

  • Poor sleep &/or poor nutrition

  • Poor conditions (weather, playing surface, equipment)

CYCLING

Common Activities

  • Stress on body minimal as only partial weight bearing

  • Prolonged lumbar & thoracic flexion

Common Injuries

  • Knee and lateral thigh problems, lower back and coccyx, toe and foot problems, wrist, hip, thoracic spine, muscle cramps

  • Injury common to knees, back, wrist, forearms, neck

  • Thigh and calf cramping

RUGBY

Common Activities

  • Rugby Union and Rugby League odes have different demands on the body

  • Change of direction, kicking, tackling

Common Injuries

  • Knees, ankles, hamstrings and adductors, shoulders, lower back, head and neck, hand and wrist, mid-back muscle strains

  • Body contact sport – trauma injuries common

  • Groins injuries from change of direction or from kicking

AFL

Common Activities

  • Greater agility required compared to football

  • Extra balance and coordination required for ankles, knees and hips

  • Travel greater distances during a game

  • More jumping and running backwards

Common Injuries

  • Ankles, knees, hamstring and lower back, cork thigh, adductor, neck, shoulder, wrist and hand

  • Lack of flexibility, improper warm-up

  • Adductor strain very common

SPRINTING

Common Activities

  • Biomechanically on their forefoot and toes mostly (compared to jogging)

Common Injuries

  • Hamstring and lower back, Achilles and foot, knees, calf, hip and adductor, mid and upper back

  • Lower limbs or lumbar spine

  • Muscle strains, Achilles, hamstring problems and sciatica common injuries

  • Muscle ruptures – hamstring, calf

SWIMMING

Common Activities

  • Weight-bearing stresses negated

  • Uses large muscle groups which is great for toning muscles, building stamina and improves heart and lung function

  • Builds pectoralis muscles

  • Internal rotation under load of upper arm

Common Injuries

  • Ankles, knees, hamstring and lower back, cork thigh, adductor, neck, shoulder, wrist and hand

  • Lack of flexibility, improper warm-up

  • Adductor strain very common

SURFING

Common Activities

  • Prolonged laying in arched position on board

  • Require flexibility, balance, coordination

  • Repeated shoulder paddling

  • Prolonged squatting position

  • The forceful back rotation at times

Common Injuries

  • Hamstring and lower back, Achilles and foot, knees, calf, hip and adductor, mid and upper back

  • Lower limbs or lumbar spine

  • Muscle strains, Achilles, hamstring problems and sciatica common injuries

  • Muscle ruptures – hamstring, calf

TRIATHLON

Common Activities

  • Physically demanding

  • Swimming

  • Cycling

  • Running

Common Injuries

  • Knees, lower back, hip, hamstring, shoulder, mid and upper back, Achilles, calf and hamstring

  • Most injuries from over-training

  • Shins splints, plantar fascitis, quadriceps and calf tightness

  • Chronic problems develop quickly due to intense and regular training

GYMNASTICS

Common Activities

  • Demands on the body are great and numerous

  • Lumbar hyperextension

  • Extreme external femoral rotation

  • Jumping, running

Common Injuries

  • Lower back, ankle and foot, hips, lower leg muscle strain, shin problems, knees

  • Lower limbs or lumbar spine

  • Damage to epiphysis (growth plate) base of first and second toe

KAYAKING

Common Activities

  • High-speed kayaking, stop & go, prolonged performance

  • Balance and agility

  • Repetitive rowing

Common Injuries

  • Shoulders, wrists, fingers

  • Impact injuries from blunt force water impact

BASKETBALL

Common Activities

  • High speed running, stop & go, change of direction

  • Balance and agility

  • Repetitive jumping

Common Injuries

  • Knees, toes, ankles, shins, foot and heel, lower back, hamstring and adductors, knee and hip, shoulder, elbow, wrist and fingers

  • Impact injuries from hard floor and other players

PEAK PERFORMANCE

When playing any specific sports we repeat the same movements over and over again with the same muscles. This can lead to fatigue, tightening of the muscles, changes in strength and even compensation patterns developing. All of these changes can affect the athlete’s performance and prevent the athlete from operating at peak performance. Sports Massage’s main goal is to help the athlete operate as close to their peak as possible.

CONTACT THE CLINIC TODAY

The Clinic provides specialised pain and injury protocols to people of the public who are suffering from chronic pain, injury and sports related issues.

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