This document provides information on many common sports injuries organized by body part. It describes the most frequent ankle injuries like ankle sprains and Achilles tendon ruptures. It also covers knee injuries, injuries to the thigh, hip, lower back, shoulders and injuries associated with the elbow, wrist, hand and fingers. For each injury, it lists symptoms and potential treatments.
3. Ankle sprain
The most common is
an inversion sprain (or
lateral ligament sprain)
where the ankle turns
over so the sole of the
foot faces
inwards, damaging the
ligaments on the
outside of the ankle.
4. Pott’s fracture
Stress fracture of the medial malleolus
Tarsal tunnel syndrome
Calf strain (pulled muscle)
Tight calf muscles
Contusion of the calf muscles
Cramp –
Stress fractures
5. TA rupture
The achiiles tendon can tear as a
partial rupture or a total rupture.
A total rupture is more common
in older men who are recreational
athletes.
It sometimes occurs following a
history of inflammation or
degeneration of the tendon but
nearly always results from a
sudden event such as pushing off
hard on the toes or suddenly
bending the foot upwards.
6. Symptoms of a total achilles tendon rupture:
A sudden sharp pain as if someone has whacked you
in the back of the leg with something.
This will often be accompanied by a load crack or
bang.
You will be unable to walk properly and unable to
stand on tip toe.
There may be a gap felt in the tendon.
There will be a lot of swelling.
A positive result for Thompson's test. (compression
of calf does not produce plantar flexion)
7. treatment
PRICE
Operate on the tendon.
Sometimes the leg is put in a plaster cast and
allowed to heal without surgery. This is
generally not the preferred method. It takes
longer to heal and longer to start on
rehabilitation.
8. achilles
tendinopathy/tendinitis
Can be acute or chronic.It is no longer thought
to be an inflammatory condition. On
investigation, the main finding is usually
degenerated tissue with a loss of normal fibre
structure.
9. `
Acute tendonitis:
Gradual onset of pain over a period of days
Pain at the onset of exercise which fades as the exercise progresses.
Pain eases with rest.
Tenderness on palpation.
Chronic tendonitis:
Gradual onset of pain over a period of weeks, or even months.
Pain with all exercise, which is constant throughout.
Pain in the tendon when walking especially up hill or up stairs.
Pain and stiffness in the Achilles tendon especially in the morning or
after rest.
There may be nodules or lumps in the achilles tendon, particularly 2-
4cm above the heel.
Tenderness on palpation.
Swelling or thickening over the Achilles tendon.
There may be redness over the skin.
You can sometimes feel a creaking when you press your fingers into
the tendon and move the ankle.
10. causes
Increase in activity (either distance, speed or hills).
Less recovery time between activities.
Change of footwear or training surface.
Weak calf muscles.
Decreased range of motion at the ankle joint, usually cause by tight calf
muscles.
Running up hills - the achilles tendon has to stretch more than normal on
every stride. This is fine for a while but will mean the tendon will fatigue
sooner than normal.
Overpronation or feet which roll in when running can place an increased
strain on the achilles tendon. As the foot rolls in (flattens) the lower leg
also rotates inwards which places twisting stresses on the tendon.
Wearing high heels constantly shortens the tendon and calf muscles.
When exercising in flat running shoes, the tendon is stretched beyond its
normal range which places an 'abnormal' strain on the tendon.
11. management
anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen.
Identify the causes and prescribe orthotics or a change in
training methods.
Tape the back of the leg to support the tendon.
Apply a plaster cast if it is really bad.
Use ultrasound treatment.
Apply sports massage techniques.
Prescribe a rehabilitation programme.
Some might give a steroid injection however an injection
directly into the tendon is not recommended. Some specialists
believe this can increase the risk of a total rupture.
Scan with an MRI or Ultrasound.
Surgery if conservative treatment fails.
12. Haglund's Deformity
When Retrocalcaneus bursitis exists at the
same time as Achilles tendinitis in the same
leg, this is known as Haglund's deformity.
13. Sever's disease / Calcaneal
Apophysitis
pain where the achilles tendon
attaches, at the back of the heel.
Sever's disease occurs mainly in
active children aged 8 to 15 years
old. The point at which the
Achilles tendon attaches to the
heel becomes inflamed and the
bone starts to crumble .Sever's
disease is often associated with a
rapid growth spurt. As the bones
get longer, the muscles and
tendons become tighter
14. compartment syndrome
Can be present in all three
compartments of the leg
Compartment syndromes arise when
a muscle becomes too big for the
sheath that surrounds it causing
pain. Compartment syndromes
can be acute or chronic
Acute compartment syndrome
can occur as a result of:
An impact which causes bleeding
within the compartment and
therefore swelling.
A muscle tear which also causes
bleeding.
Over use injury which also causes
swelling.
15. Shin splints (Periostitis)
inflammation of the periostium of the
tibia (sheath surrounding the bone)
causing pain in anteriormedial shin
Symptoms of shin splints:
Pain over the inside lower half of the shin.
Pain at the start of exercise which often
eases as the session continues
Pain often returns after activity and may
be at its worse the next morning.
Sometimes some swelling.
Lumps and bumps may be felt when
feeling the inside of the shin bone.
Pain when the toes or foot are bent
downwards.
A redness over the inside of the shin (not
always present).
18. Chrondromalacia Patellae
damage to the articular cartilage
Acute injuries normally occur when the front
of the knee cap suffers an impact, such as
falling directly onto it, or being hit from the
front. This results is small tears or
roughening of the cartilage.
In overuse cases, the cause of the damage is
usually repetitive rubbing of part of the
cartilage against the underlying bone. In a
healthy knee the movement of the Patella
across the knee is a gliding, smooth
movement. In individuals with CMP, the
knee cap rubs against the part of the joint
behind it, resulting in
inflammation, degeneration and pain. This
can be for a number of reasons, but is
usually due to the position of the patella
itself.
19. Osgood Schlatters disease
Osgood Schlatters disease is a very
common cause of knee pain in
children and young athletes usually
between the ages of 10 and 15. It
occurs due to a period of rapid
growth, combined with a high level
of sporting activity. These changes
result in a pulling force from the
patella tendon, on to the tibial
tuberosity (bony protrusion at the
top of the shin). This area then
becomes inflamed, painful and
swollen. This is frequent in younger
people due to the remaining
softness in their bones (from
childhood).
20. Thigh: sports injury
back
Rupture of hamstring muscles / hamstring strain
Hamstring contusion
Tight hamstring muscles
Hamstring Tendinitis at the muscles origin
Front
Rupture of quadriceps muscles (pulled muscle / thigh strain)
Contusion of quadriceps muscles (dead leg / charley horse)
Rupture of rectus femoris muscle
Inflammation of rectus femoris tendon
Rupture of adductor muscles (Groin strain)
Glimore's groin
Inflammation of adductor muscles or tendon (tendinitis / tendinopathy) -
Myositis Ossificans
Hernia
Ostitis Pubis
Inflammation of iliopsoas muscle
Rupture of iliopsoas muscle
Stress Fracture of the Femur
21. Gilmore's groin
Gilmore's groin was first identified in 1980 as a
cause of longstanding groin pain. The condition
is sometimes called the Sportsman's
Hernia, however there is not actually a hernia
present.
The external oblique muscle has an archway
through which several nerves and vessels pass. In
Gilmore's groin, a groin muscle tear causes this
archway to open up much wider. Further tears in
the obliques cause them to lift up and away from
the inguinal ligament, leaving the transversus
abdominus unsupported.
22. HIP
Hip bursitis
Stress fracture of the femur
Slippage of the epiphysis at neck of femur
Perthes' disease
Inflammation and calcification of the greater
trochanter
Inflammation of the hip joint (synovitis)
Labral Tear
23. Buttocks
Piriformis syndrome
Inflammation of the sacroiliac joint
Iliolumbar ligament sprain
Referred pain from the lumbar spine
Myofascial Pain and Trigger Points
Sciatica
Inflammation of the muscle attachments to the greater
trochanter
Ischiogluteal Bursitis
Ankylosing Spondylitis / Bechterew's Disease
Hamstring Tendinitis at the muscles origin
25. upper back & neck
Pain in the neck which does not radiate -
Rehabilitation, mobility, stretching, strengthening, sports
massage, taping
Pain in the neck which radiates to the shoulders and arms -
Rehabilitation, mobility, stretching, strengthening, sports
massage, taping, traction
Muscle ruptures in the back -
Rehabilitation, mobility, strengthening, sports massage
Inflammation of muscle attachments to the spine -
Rehabilitation, stretching, strengthening, sports massage, taping.
Scheuermann's disease
Tight muscles in the upper back and neck -
Rehabilitation, mobility, stretching, strengthening, sports
massage, taping.
26. Fracture of the clavicle
Fracture of the neck of the humerus
Frozen Shoulder / Adhesive capsulitis - Rehabilitation
Dislocation of the A.C. joint
Dislocation of the sterno-clavicular joint
Dislocated Shoulder
Impingement syndrome - Rehabilitation, stretching, strengthening.
Rotator cuff injuries / rotator cuff strain - Rehabilitation, stretching, strengthening, sports massage.
Rupture of the supraspinatus tendon - Rehabilitation, mobility, strengthening.
Inflammation of the supraspinatus tendon - Rehabilitation, mobility, strengthening.
Subacromial bursitis - Rehabilitation, mobility, strengthening.
Inflammation of the subscapularis tendon - Rehabilitation, stretching, strengthening, sports massage.
Deltoid muscle strain (front)
Deltoid muscle strain (back) - Rehabilitation, stretching, strengthening, sports massage.
Pectoralis major muscle / tendon strain - Rehabilitation, stretching, strengthening.
Pectoralis major tendon inflammation - Rehabilitation, stretching, strengthening.
Rupture of the long head of the biceps - Rehabilitation, stretching, strengthening, sports massage.
Inflammation of the long head of the biceps - Rehabilitation, stretching, strengthening, sports massage.
Winged Scapula
27. Elbow
Tennis elbow - Rehabilitation, strengthening, stretching, sports
massage, prevention
Entrapment of the radial nerve
Bursitis of the elbow (student elbow)
Golfers / Throwers elbow -
Rehabilitation, strengthening, stretching, sports massage.
Inflammation of the biceps tendon
Entrapment of the ulnar nerve
Inflammation and rupture of the triceps tendon -
Rehabilitation, stretching, strengthening, sports massage
Elbow Hyperextension Injury - Taping
Medial Elbow Ligament Sprain
28. Wrist & Forearm
RSI - Repetitive strain injury
Bursitis in the wrist.
Carpal tunnel syndrome - Sports massage
Dislocation of the carpal bones
Muscle & tendon inflammation
Fractured Scaphoid
Fracture of the distal radius
Fracture of the hook of the hamate
de Quervain's Tenosynivitis
Ganglion Cyst
Distal Radial Epiphysis Injury
29. Hand & Finger
Metacarpal fractures
Dupuytren's contracture
Sprained thumb
Sprained finger