Sports Injuries

What are sports injuries?

Sports injuries are divided into two broad categories: acute and chronic injuries. Acute injuries occur immediately after an aggravating incident, for example, sprains and dislocations. Chronic injuries result from overuse and develop gradually over time. They include stress fractures, tendinitis as well as ligament strains. Injuries resulting from sports or exercises are very common and affect both competitive athletes and recreational sportsmen.

What are the common types of sports injury?

Besides sprains of the neck and back, people who play racquet ball games such as tennis, badminton, or squash are prone to shoulder (rotator cuff) injuries, tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis), or knee pain (patella tendinitis). Basketball or volleyball players who jump excessively develop injuries of the knee and ankle, e.g., patella tendinitis and Achilles tendinitis. Football players are prone to hamstring and adductor strains, anterior cruciate ligament tears, meniscus tears as well as ankle sprains.

How are sports injuries treated?

Early recognition of the condition is important. Resting and icing the painful area helps. You should not return to play without proper assessment by a doctor as incomplete healing can develop into a chronic pain condition. Appropriate rehabilitation through addressing biomechanics, progressive muscle/tendon loading, and maintain general aerobic condition are important before returning to sports. The secondary aim is also to prevent re-injury.

Tennis Elbow (Lateral epicondylitis)

What is tennis elbow?

Tennis elbow is a painful condition affecting the tendons of the forearm muscles attached to the outside of the elbow (the lateral epicondyle). It is commonly a result of repetitive overuse of the wrist and arm.

It not only affects athletes who play racquet games but is also common in other professions involving heavy work on the hands, for example, plumbers, carpenters and chefs.

What are the symptoms of tennis elbow?

Pain is localised to the outside of the elbow and actions such as turning a doorknob, shaking hands or gripping a cup can make the pain worse.

How is tennis elbow treated?

Most people will recover with rest, ice, anti-inflammatory painkillers and physiotherapy.

Wearing an elbow brace also helps.

Shockwave therapy can help by using sound waves to stimulate natural healing within the tendon.

Other non-surgical treatment include injection of steroid or platelet-rich plasma. Both procedures are performed in the outpatient clinic.

Golfer’s Elbow (Medial epicondylitis)

What is golfer’s elbow?

Golfer’s elbow is a painful condition affecting the tendons of the forearm muscles that attaches to the inside of the elbow (the medial epicondyle). It develops from repetitive twisting and clenching activities leading to overload of the tendons.

Golf, racquetball games and lifting weights are common causes. Manual work requiring the use of the wrist and arm can also lead golfer’s elbow.

What are the symptoms of golfer’s elbow?

Pain is localised to the inside of the elbow. Pain is worse when gripping, bending the wrist or lifting a heavy object with the palm facing upwards. Grip strength is also reduced.

How is golfer’s elbow treated?

Most people will recover with rest, ice, anti-inflammatory painkillers and physiotherapy. Wearing an elbow brace also helps.

Shockwave therapy can help by using sound waves to stimulate natural healing within the
tendon.

Other non-surgical treatment include injection of steroid or platelet-rich plasma. Both procedures are performed in the outpatient clinic.

Patella Tendinitis

What is patella tendinitis?

Patella tendinitis is an overuse injury of the tendon between the knee cap (patella) and the shin bone.

It is also known as jumper’s knee because it is common in sports such as basketball and volleyball where a lot of jumping is involved.

What are the symptoms of patella tendinitis?

Pain at or just below the knee cap occurring during exercises. As the pain worsens, pain may even interfere with daily activities such as walking and climbing stairs.

How is patella tendinitis treated?

Initial treatment includes physiotherapy, stretching and strengthening exercises. Wearing a patella tendon strap also helps.

Occasionally pain medication is needed.

Prevention: strengthening of the thigh muscles, correct biomechanics and rest when the knee is painful are important to prevent recurrence of symptoms.

Knee Sprains: Ligament or Meniscus Injury

What can happen in a knee sprain?

The outer ligaments (medial and lateral collateral ligaments) and inner ligaments (anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments) give support to the knee. Two C-shaped cartilages (medial and lateral meniscus) within the knee joint act as cushions between the thigh and shin bones.

Knee injuries from twisting, or direct impact from a collision can damage both ligaments and menisci.

What are the symptoms of ligament or meniscus injury?

Pain, swelling, stiffness, instability and locking of the knee joint. Sometimes you may even hear a pop during the time of injury, which may suggest an anterior cruciate ligament tear.

How is ligament or meniscus injury treated?

Mild sprains are treated by rest, ice, compression, and elevation. When swelling resolves, early mobilisation is usually recommended.

Severe knee sprains may need an MRI scan for further evaluation and surgical intervention.

Ankle Sprain

What is an ankle sprain?

An ankle sprain is an injury when the ankle is twisted in an awkward angle, straining or even tearing the strong ligaments that support the ankle. Ninety percent of ankle sprains injure the ligaments on the outside of the ankle (an inversion injury where the foot turns inwards).

Tripping or falling on an uneven surface, sports such as football, basketball and running are common cause of ankle sprains.

What are the symptoms of an ankle sprain?

Pain, swelling, bruising and instability are common symptoms.

How is an ankle sprain treated?

Sprains are treated initially by rest, ice, compression, elevation, and a short period of immobilisation.

When swelling resolves, early weightbearing, range of motion exercises, balance training, calf stretches and strengthening are important for rehabilitation.

Ankle sprains with severe instability, complete ligament/tendon tears may sometimes need surgical intervention.

Achilles Tendinitis

What is Achilles tendinitis?

Achilles tendinitis occurs when overuse of the tendon between the calf muscle and the heel leads to pain, inflammation and swelling. It is common in sports that involve a lot of jumping, landing and start-stop running, e.g., basketball, volleyball, runners and dancers.

What are the symptoms of Achilles tendinitis?

Pain and swelling in the lower end of the calf muscle or heel. Pain can also be aggravated when standing on tiptoe or when stretching the calf muscle.

How is Achilles tendinitis treated?

Rest, ice and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications to reduce pain and swelling. Wearing shoes with a heel lift to reduce tension in the Achilles tendon.

Initial stretching exercises to loosen the calf muscles followed by strengthening. Sometimes, switching to low-impact sports is necessary.

There is also evidence that shockwave therapy can help relieve Achilles tendinitis affecting the midportion of the tendon.

Plantar Fasciitis

What is plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of foot pain. It is caused by inflammation of the plantar fascia – the thick band of ligament stretching across the foot arch between the heel and the toes.

It commonly affects people between 40 to 60 years old; and those with high arch, flat feet or tight calf muscles. People who run, dance or participate in high-impact sports are also at risk.

What are the symptoms of plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis typically causes sharp pain at the bottom of the foot near the heel. Pain is worse when getting out of bed in the morning. Pain is also aggravated by prolonged standing.

How is plantar fasciitis treated?

Initial treatment usually involves physiotherapy to stretch the Achilles tendon and plantar fascia. Wearing a night splint and arch support may also help.

Other treatments include injection of steroid and platelet-rich plasma, shockwave therapy or ultrasonic tissue repair.

Other Pain Conditions

Cart

No products in the cart.