Hip & Knee Sporting Injuries
How do sporting injuries occur?
Sports injuries occur when playing indoor or outdoor sports or while exercising.
These injuries can result from accidents, inadequate training, improper use of protective equipment, or insufficient stretching or warm-up exercises.
Types of sport injuries
The most common sports injuries are:
- sprains
- strains
- fractures, or
- dislocations
Types of hip & knee sport injuries?
Sporting injuries of the hip or knee can affect anyone during or after a sporting activity. Common causes of trauma are due to:
- Falling or impact during a sport
- Recurrent injuries, or
- General overexertion during play.
People at higher risk of Hip & Knee Sports Injuries include:
- Athletes - High impact sports can often cause traumatic injury.
- Elderly - Thinning of the bone due to osteoporosis can also cause injury.
- Young people and individuals who perform repeated stressful activities (running, jogging, and athletes).
How is a sports injury diagnosed?
The diagnosis of sports injuries is made by taking a complete history and performing a complete physical examination.
Additionally, the doctor may employ one or more of the following imaging methods to confirm or rule out any differential diagnosis that causes similar pain. These include:
- X-Rays, lateral and external oblique views.
- Computerized Topographic (CT) scan of the affected area.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or
- Ultrasound of the affected area.
After a clear diagnosis is obtained suitable treatment can follow.
Initial injury treatment
Our body reacts to many sports injuries by protecting the injured area with a blood clot and callus or fibrous tissue.
The most common initial injury treatment recommended is rest, ice, compression and elevation (RICE).
- Rest: Avoid activities that may cause injury.
- Ice: Ice packs can be applied to the injured area, which will help reduce swelling and pain. Ice should be applied over a towel on the affected area for 15-20 minutes, four times a day, for several days. Never place ice directly over the skin.
- Compression: Compression of the injured area also helps reduce swelling.
- Elevation: Elevate the injured area above your heart level to reduce swelling and pain.
Please visit your General Practitioner or local Hospital for guidance. If needed they can refer you to Dr Edward Graham for further investigation and treatment.
The objective of early Sports Injury management is to:
- prevent further injury,
- control any bleeding, swelling or pain,
- remove sources of infection; such as foreign bodies.
The next step in Sport Injury management is:
- interventional treatments.
- progressive improvement.
Sports injury prevention
Some of the measures that are followed to prevent sports-related injuries include:
- Follow an exercise program to strengthen the muscles.
- Gradually increase your exercise level and avoid overdoing the exercise.
- Ensure that you wear properly-fitted protective gear such as elbow guards, eye gear, facemasks, mouth guards and pads, comfortable clothes, and athletic shoes before playing any sports activity, which will help reduce the chances of injury.
- Make sure that you carry out warm-up and cool-down exercises before and after the sports activity. Exercises will help stretch muscles, increase flexibility and reduce soft tissue injuries.
- Maintain a healthy diet, which will nourish the muscles.
- Avoid playing when you are injured or tired.
- Learn all the rules of the game you are participating in.
- Ensure that you are physically fit to play the sport.
Hip injury treatment
Hip injuries require immediate medical intervention to avoid further complications.
Common knee injuries caused during sport
Common sports injuries affecting the knee are:
- Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tears - the ACL is a major stabilizing ligament in the knee, which may tear while playing sports. The ACL has poor ability to heal and may cause instability.
- Cartilage damage
- Meniscal tear.
Knee injury treatment
Knee injuries during sports may require surgical intervention, which can be performed using open surgical or minimally invasive technique.
Sports injury rehabilitation
Sport injuries may take several weeks to months to heal completely.
You should limit your activities even after the removal of cast or brace.
Your surgeon will recommend physical therapy to strengthen your muscles and improve range of motion and movement of the bones and joints.
Rehabilitation programs involve exercises and gradual increase in activity levels until the process of healing is complete.
What if a hip or knee sporting injury is untreated?
If left untreated or improperly managed, Hip and Knee injuries can result in a reduced quality of life due to persistent pain, it may also affect mobility.
