Common Falls Sport Injuries Seen in Student Athletes

Article featured on Progressive Spine & Sports Medicine

Fall season is in full swing, which means fall sports season is in full swing, too! If you have student athletes in your house, then you should be aware of the following common injuries that tend to occur this time of year.

Common Falls Sport Injuries Seen in Student Athletes

Whether your child plays field hockey, soccer, football, cross-country, or another fall season sport, he or she may be at risk for any of the following conditions:

WHIPLASH

Commonly seen in football and other full contact sports, whiplash is pain, strain, and tissue damage in the neck caused by a sudden and violent forward/backward movement of the head. Common symptoms include headaches, dizziness, neck and shoulder pain, and neck stiffness.

Concussions and post-concussive syndrome are related issues seen particularly by football players. These are actually mild forms of a brain injury, and can present with some whiplash-like symptoms, like dizziness and headaches, as well as other symptoms including mental fogginess, irritability, and insomnia.

ACL SPRAIN OR TEAR

Consistently reported as one of the most common injuries among fall athletes, an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear or sprain is damage to an important stabilizing ligament within the knee. It often happens due to sudden pivoting, turning, and/or jumping. Symptoms include knee pain, swelling, decreased range of motion, and difficulty walking. A person with an ACL sprain or tear may even hear an audible “pop” in their knee during the acute injury. This can often occur with damage to the meniscus (which serve as supportive discs inside the knee joint).

In addition to ACL tears, ligamentous injuries at the ankle are also frequently reported during the fall season.

SHIN SPLINTS

Cross-country runners are particularly at risk for this type of injury. Shin splints cause pain and tenderness on the front of the lower leg due to micro-damage of the muscles, tendons, and other connective tissues in that area. It’s often caused by overuse, or a sudden increase in physical activity.

How Our Orthopedic and Non-Surgical Pain Team Can Help Treat & Prevent Fall Sports-Related Injuries

In addition to getting quality sleep, recovery, hydration, and nutrition, your child can also minimize his or her risk by seeking preventive care through pre-season sports physicals and skills-specific training.

Sometimes, however, no amount of preparation can prevent an injury. At Progressive Spine & Sports Medicine, we offer some of Northern New Jersey’s leading diagnostic and treatment services for acute orthopedic injuries using non-surgical and highly effective approaches. We’ve helped hundreds of student athletes recover quickly and completely from their injuries so they can get back to their sport at their fullest potential.

Specific techniques we use to help athletes heal include:

• Regenerative medicine
• Neurological and sports rehabilitation
• Physical therapy
• Diagnostic imaging

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