Aroundtown Magazine March/April 2022 edition

HEALTH & BEAUTY
You&your
health
With Good Measure Pharmacy
Chronic sports injuries
Exercise has a host of benefits to both your
physical and mental health. People who regularly
take part in physical activity have a lower risk of
developing many long-term conditions such as
heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, dementia,
and some cancers.
But sometimes, due to improper
training, technique or tools, exercise
can lead to chronic injuries that
can impact you in later life if not
managed correctly.
Chronic sports injuries are those
which are a result of overusing
an area of your body through
prolonged, repetitive movement
over a long period of time. They are
musculoskeletal injuries that affect
bones, joints, ligaments, tendons
or muscles.
Different sports carry different
injury risks. Runners often
experience foot/knee-related
injuries, golfers are more likely to
experience shoulder and lower
back problems, and footballers may
be more prone to groin, quad or
ankle sprains.
Chronic injuries far outnumber
acute sports injuries – those
resulting directly from a hit or
fall, such as broken bones or
concussion. However, people
often ignore chronic injuries as just
wear and tear or signs of getting
older and continue playing sports
or exercising despite symptoms,
meaning the body doesn’t get
chance to recover. By the time they
seek medical help, the injuries are
well established and can be more
difficult to treat conservatively.
Without intervention, a chronic
sports injury will continue to
reoccur. Overtime, repetitive trauma
“
Around 60
percent of chronic
sports injuries
are because of
poor training,
such as incorrect
technique, trying
to progress too
fast, or overdoing
a motion past the
body’s capability
”
to the muscles, ligaments and
tendons could lead to long-term
implications such as arthritis,
carpal tunnel syndrome, or
calcification where calcium leaks
into bruises in the muscle causing
bone-like structures.
Common chronic sports
injuries include:
ACL tears – the anterior
cruciate ligament (ACL) is in
the knee and can be partially or
completely torn by overstretching in
sports such as basketball, football,
gymnastics or tennis. A sudden
stop or change in direction may
cause the weakened ligament to
snap. Surgery is sometimes needed
to repair or replace the ligament.
Hamstring strain
– the hamstring is a tendon that
attaches the muscle to the bone in
the thigh. It can be strained due to
rapid acceleration in a short period
of time and is common in runners.
Long-term, it can affect mobility
and flexibility.
Rotator cuff injury
– this is the part of the shoulder that
controls movement and stability, but
it is prone to injuries, particularly in
sports such as tennis or swimming
where the arms are lifted. It can
also be caused by impingement,
where the tendon catches on the
bone. If scar tissue develops,
frozen shoulder can develop
where movement in the joint
becomes limited.
Shin splints – this is
pain along the tibia (shin bone)
after exercise. It can feel like the
muscle is pulling away from the
bone. Running or dancing on hard
surfaces could be the cause, as well
as wearing improper footwear with
no support, or having flat feet or a
high arch.
Sprains and strains
– the most common sport injuries,
caused by stress to ligaments,
muscles or joints. They can occur
anywhere but are more common in
ankles, the groin and lower back,
causing tenderness or stiffness.
Instability is the biggest risk factor
and bracing may help to prevent
further injury.
Stress fractures – tiny
cracks commonly caused by
weight-bearing activities in places
like the wrist or heel bone. If not
properly managed, they can lead
to larger fractures that are harder
to heal.
Tendinitis – this is where
the tendons become inflamed due
to repetitive motion and is common
in the Achilles, tennis elbow, or
jumper’s knee. Jumping, running,
walking, rowing, throwing and even
fishing can cause these injuries.
Symptoms of chronic sports
injuries are pain when exercising,
a dull ache when resting, and
swelling in the area affected.
Treatment includes rest and ice to
the area affected, anti-inflammatory
medication (ibuprofen), wearing
braces or supports, or manual
therapy such as physiotherapy or
massage. In more persistent cases,
steroid injections or surgery may
be required.
Around 60 percent of chronic
sports injuries are because of
poor training, such as incorrect
technique, trying to progress too
fast, or overdoing a motion past
the body’s capability. It can also
be caused by wearing the wrong
footwear, not warming up or cooling
down properly, or having general
poor health.
Muscle fatigue is the leading
cause of injury, resulting from a
lack of strength and/or endurance.
To reduce the risk of reoccurrence,
prevention is more important than
treatment. The focus shouldn’t just
be on managing pain; improving
weakness and bad habits will get to
the root of the cause will help you
stay in the game.
Andrew Watson
If you have any specific health
concerns, please feel free to
contact me at Good Measure
or email me at
andy@thewatsons.co.uk
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