What Are the Most Common Sports Medicine Injuries?

Article featured on Integris Health

Every athlete, from professionals to weekend joggers, faces the risk of injury during physical activity. Fortunately, about 90 percent of these injuries can be effectively treated without surgery, thanks to the growing field of sports medicine.

Sports medicine specialists and orthopedic surgeons are experts in diagnosing, treating, and managing injuries to help you recover safely and regain your active lifestyle. From sprains and shin splints to concussions, these doctors focus on both immediate care and long-term prevention. This blog will cover sports medicine specialists and the most common injuries they treat.

What is sports medicine?

Sports medicine brings together different areas of health care to support the unique needs of people who stay active.

• Prevention is a top priority by educating patients about how to use techniques, proper training methods, and safe exercise practices to stay healthy.
• Advanced tools like imaging technology help diagnose and identify the nature and extent of injuries or conditions.
• Treatment involves employing non-surgical and surgical approaches to manage injuries, improve function, and reduce pain.
• Rehabilitation focuses on creating tailored recovery plans that include physical therapy, strength training, and mobility exercises.

Becoming a sports medicine physician involves several steps.

• Upon completion of a four-year medical degree, physicians typically pursue a three-year residency training in primary care fields such as emergency medicine, family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, or physical rehabilitation. Physicians in these fields provide non-operative treatment to athletes.
• Orthopedic surgeons may also choose to become sports medicine specialists after completion of a five-year orthopedic surgery residency. They provide surgical and nonsurgical care.
• After residency, a one- or two-year fellowship in sports medicine provides advanced training in injury management, physical activity safety and athlete care. In the case of an orthopedic sports medicine surgeon, the fellowship includes advanced training in surgical techniques and often team medical coverage at the professional or college level.

What does sports medicine cover?

At a glance: Sports medicine is about more than just treating injuries; it’s about helping active individuals perform at their best while staying safe. Whether it’s aiding recovery from a concussion, managing the effects of heat during a long run or teaching the right way to move and exercise, sports medicine offers a full spectrum of care.

Chronic and acute injuries are both treated by sports medicine doctors.

• Acute injuries happen suddenly and are often the result of an accident or physical trauma.
• Examples include sprains (ligament injuries), strains (muscle or tendon injuries), and fractures (broken bones).
• Chronic injuries, on the other hand, develop over time, usually due to repetitive activities or overuse.
• Common examples are tendonitis (inflammation of tendons, such as in the elbow caused by tennis), arthritis (joint inflammation from degenerative changes such as cartilage breakdown or sometimes autoimmune disease), or stress fractures (hairline bone cracks often seen in runners from repetitive impact).

Concussion management focuses on accurate diagnosis and safe recovery.

• Sports medicine physicians use detailed assessment protocols, including neurological exams and cognitive testing, to evaluate the severity of a concussion.
• They then create step-by-step recovery plans to ensure patients return to their activities when it is safe, reducing the risk of further or long-term brain injuries.

Exercise-related conditions include heat illnesses or exercise-induced asthma.

• Heat exhaustion or heat stroke can result from exercising in hot or humid conditions.
• Sports medicine experts treat these cases quickly and educate patients on drinking enough fluids and avoiding extreme weather during workouts.
• Exercise-induced asthma happens when physical activity triggers breathing difficulties, especially in high-intensity activities or cold weather.
• Sports medicine specialists create strategies, such as proper warm-ups or the use of inhalers, to help patients manage these symptoms and stay active.

Optimizing performance is for anyone who wants to improve their physical abilities.

• Sports medicine professionals perform assessments to understand your physical strengths and weaknesses, including testing endurance, flexibility, balance, and strength.
• They can then recommend training programs tailored to specific goals.
• For example, they might help a runner increase speed through improved running mechanics or assist a basketball player with drills to improve jumping and agility.

Prevention is a key focus in sports medicine.

• By educating people on the importance of proper technique, posture, and body mechanics, sports medicine specialists help reduce the risk of future injuries.
• Additionally, they stress the importance of warm-ups, cool-downs, stretching, and strength training in injury prevention.
• Education extends beyond sports to lifestyle habits, highlighting the role of nutrition, hydration, and sleep in maintaining overall health.

Common injuries treated by sports medicine specialists

Key points: Sports medicine specialists and orthopedic doctors provide care for acute and chronic injuries, as well as performance optimization and injury prevention. Treatment options include physical therapy, prescription medications, bracing, injections, lifestyle adjustments, and surgery.

• Orthopedic surgeons specializing in sports medicine offer surgical options for recovery and treatment, including joint replacement, ligament repair or reconstruction, and fracture management.

Sprains and strains occur when ligaments, muscles, or tendons are overstretched.

• Sprains occur when ligaments are stretched or torn, while strains affect muscles and tendons.
• Ligaments are thick bands of tissue that connect bones, creating joint stability, and tendons are structures that provide attachment from muscle to bone, allowing joint motion.
• Sprains often happen during falls, and occur if a joint undergoes an abnormal stress force (ankle sprain), whereas strains may occur due to overuse or sudden movements, causing a traction force on a muscle or tendon.
• Mild cases are managed with the R.I.C.E. method (rest, ice, compression, and elevation), pain relievers, and recovery exercises.
• Many injuries may require physical therapy, and severe cases often require surgery.

Tendonitis refers to the inflammation or irritation of a tendon, which usually develops from repetitive motion or overuse.

• Specific types of tendonitis include tennis elbow (affecting the muscles and tendons of the forearm and elbow), swimmer’s shoulder (subacromial bursitis or rotator cuff tendonitis), and jumper’s knee (affecting the patellar tendon).
• Effective management includes limiting activities that worsen the condition, applying ice to reduce swelling, taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and rehabilitative exercises to improve strength and flexibility.

A fracture is a break in the bone and can range from small cracks to completely displaced fragments.

• Acute fractures usually occur from significant trauma, like falls or collisions, as in a car accident or contact sports.
• Stress fractures develop over time due to repetitive impact, common among runners or dancers.
• Fractures may require immobilization using a splint, cast, or brace.
• Severe fractures may require a referral to an orthopedic surgeon to perform surgery. Surgery may include inserting pins, screws, or plates to stabilize the bone.

Dislocations occur when bones are forced out of alignment in a joint.

• They are often the result of falls, blunt trauma, or sudden twisting motions during physical activities.
• A doctor reduces the dislocated joint back into place, sometimes under sedation.
• Rest, immobilization, and physical therapy follow.

Shin splints describe pain along the front or inner edge of the shinbone (tibia).

• They are most commonly caused by overuse or sudden increases in physical activity, such as running on hard surfaces, improper footwear, or poor running technique.
• Shin splints are treated through rest, ice therapy, and gentle stretching exercises.
• Switching to supportive footwear, adding orthotic inserts, and gradually easing into activity can prevent the issue from coming back.

Rotator cuff injuries in the shoulder range from inflammation and small tears to complete ruptures.

• These injuries are common in activities requiring repetitive overhead motions, such as swimming, baseball, or construction.
• Rest, anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, and strengthening programs are common treatments.
• Severe injuries, such as full-thickness tendon tears, often require surgical repair.

ACL tears are common knee injuries, particularly in sports requiring quick pivots, sudden stops, or jumping, such as basketball or skiing.

• The ACL provides stability to the knee joint, and when it tears, the knee can feel unstable or give out.
• Small, incomplete tears can be managed by a sports medicine physician through physical therapy and bracing.
• However, complete tears usually require reconstructive surgery using a tendon graft.

Concussions are brain injuries caused by a sudden jolt or blow to the head, commonly seen in contact sports like football or soccer.

• They disrupt normal brain function and require careful monitoring and management.
• Rest and stopping all physical or mental activities are critical to recovery.
• Gradual return-to-play protocols guide athletes back to activity safely.