Students: Don’t get sidelined by sports injuries

Preventing sports injuries in student athletes 

As student athletes ramp up their sports over the upcoming weeks, several steps can be taken to reduce the risk of injuries.  

Under the guidance of coaches and trainers, an off-season conditioning program and proper warm-up techniques can help reduce the likelihood of an injury. Unfortunately, injuries can still occur despite taking all the appropriate preventative measures. 

Understanding acute vs. chronic sports injuries 

Sports injuries can be categorized as acute or chronic injuries by the timing of their onset. Acute injuries happen quickly during a specific episode that the athlete will commonly remember. For example, a football player may have felt a “pop” in their knee when changing directions, and their knee swelled up after this injury. Chronic injuries occur over a longer period. For example, a soccer player may have pain in the front of their knee that has slowly worsened over the past month, but they do not remember one specific time or incident that triggered the initial pain in their knee. 

When to seek medical attention for a sports injury 

Athletes and their parents may be wondering when it is time to seek medical attention for their injury. As each athlete and their injuries are different, there is not a single rule that can be applied to all possible scenarios; however, some general principles can be used as guidance for seeking medical attention. 

In general, an acute injury, such as twisting the knee with swelling afterward, raises suspicion for a higher level of injury, including a tear of a knee ligament or another structure inside the knee. An injury with pain or symptoms that prevent an athlete from playing their sport would be another sign that it is time to seek medical attention. Lastly, a chronic injury that has been ongoing for several months, with no signs of improvement, may also warrant evaluation from a medical professional. 

The role of athletic trainers and physical therapists in injury management 

Sometimes, an athlete has licensed professionals, such as certified athletic trainers or physical therapists, readily available to help with the initial management of their injuries. In addition to treating injuries, these professionals are a great resource for helping to decide if an athlete also needs to see a doctor for their injury.  

While injuries are an unfortunate occurrence in sports participation, athletes can utilize these resources to get back in the game in a safe and timely manner.