TWO COMMON BODY PARTS INJURED DURING SPORTS    
By Dr. Parminder S. Bhalesar, D.C. 

Injuries during sporting activities are not only painful but they are common. These can range from ankle injuries, knee injuries, hip and back injuries, neck injuries and arm injuries.  The extent of the injury is solely dependent on the mechanism of the cause of the injury.  Working together in collaboration with your medical doctor, rehabilitation facilities are able to carefully determine the cause of the pain and injury and provide you with the best treatment and care. 

When an injury occurs in sports, the question remains as to what exactly happened. The two common areas of the body that are normally injured during a game are the ankle and knee. 

ANKLE SPRAINS

A Grade 2 ankle sprain is more complicated and may require some immediate medical attention.  This ankle sprain renders you helpless at the time of the injury.  There is apparent swelling usually along the outside of the ankle and putting any weight on that foot is somewhat unbearable.  You are still capable of walking on the foot.   An x-ray may reveal a fracture but this is usually not the case.  The ankle range of motion is usually limited and is quite painful if mild force is placed beyond the tolerance.  In a situation such as this, remember the acronym RICE.  Rest after the injury.  This is necessary to avoid further aggravation or injury to the ankle.  Ice after the injury to help with decreasing the swelling in the ankle.  Compression using a tensor bandage or brace will further help reduce swelling and provide the necessary support.  Elevation of the ankle will keep the swelling down.  This is achieved by laying down and raising the foot above the level of the heart.  By doing so, the fluid in the ankle will drain towards the heart and be pumped out.  Treatment is necessary to help with the proper rehabilitation of the ankle.  Electric muscle stimulation, ice, acupressure and ankle manipulation may all be necessary.  This is followed by balance training and strength training.  This injury will usually resolve in 4 to 6 weeks.  Custom orthopaedic inserts are recommended to help decrease the chances of a re-aggravation.  

A Grade 3 ankle sprain is much more serious.  With this injury, the outside ligaments have completely ruptured and a resulting fracture is usually the case.  No weight can be placed on that foot.  Swelling in the ankle appears to surround the entire foot.  With this injury, immediate medical attention is required.  You may be placed in an air cast or soft cast to help keep the ankle immobile and keep the swelling down.  Crutches may also be prescribed to keep any weight off the foot.  Rehabilitation requires the same treatments as with a Grade 2 injury but due to the extent of this injury, you can spend 2 months or more rehabilitating the ankle.  It is also advisable to obtain custom orthopaedic inserts to help aid in the proper alignment of the ankle and foot. 

KNEE INJURIES 

The knee is usually involved in most sports related injuries.  These injuries usually occur when there has been direct impact on the knee or your body goes one way while your knee keeps going in the direction opposed to your body.  In any case, the most common injuries seen with the knee is the Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tear (ACL) and the Medial Cruciate Ligament Tear (MCL).  Let us observe the difference between the injuries: 

 As a reminder, the above cases are generalizations.  In some cases there are other parts of the knee or ankle that may be damaged.  A thorough examination is warranted to get the best diagnostic results.  Working together in collaboration with your medical doctor, rehabilitation facilities are able to carefully determine the cause of the pain and injury and provide you with the best treatment and care.  In any case where an injury has occurred, remember the acronym RICE; Rest, Ice Compression , Elevation.  With this in mind, you will have a good understanding as to what you need to do at the time of the injury.  This article is not intended so that you can diagnose your injury and present it to your doctor but instead to give you an understanding of the injuries that are most commonly incurred during a sporting event.
 

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About The Author

ATLAS SPORTS FITNESS AND REHAB
Dr. Parminder S. Bhalesar is a Doctor of Chiropractic and the Director of ATLAS SPORTS FITNESS AND REHAB.  He is involved in treating all types of injuries ranging from sports related cases, work injuries, motor vehicle accidents and personal injuries.  The clinic as a whole utilizes chiropractic, physiotherapy, acupuncture, massage and rehabilitation.  Our goal is to provide you with the best possible care so that you can return to your maximum potential to continue life as you want.

Website: www.asfrcare.ca
Telephone: 905-677-3945