The summer season creates the perfect storm for sports injuries. Kids and adults are all playing more outdoor games in the summertime, as the snow has melted, pools and beaches are open, and you can go out and play a pickup game of basketball or softball anytime – after all, it’s also vacation time from school.
However, fun in the sun often turns to calamity. Let’s talk about some of the most common types of sports injuries and who you can talk to about prevention and treatment.
Common Injuries from Summer Sports
The following injuries are some of the most frequent health issues which doctors treat during the summer:
Stress Fractures
Bones can develop thin cracks due to overuse, and these are called stress fractures. This can happen to any bone that is overworked, including feet and legs that receive constant pressure when playing sports like basketball, running, and soccer.
Stress fractures are hairline cracks in a bone that cause pain and inflammation. The painful symptoms increase with more activity. This type of fracture is also a common injury in osteoporosis.
Sprains
A sprain is the stretching or the partial or total tearing of a ligament. Ligaments connect bones to other bones, and the ankle is the most commonly sprained ligament in the body.
Whereas a stretched or partially torn ligament can heal on its own with rest and self-care, a fully torn ligament often requires surgical repair in order to regain use of the sprained joint.
Strains
Similar to a sprain, a strain is the stretching or the partial or total tearing of a muscle or a tendon. Tendons are the strong tissues that connect a muscle to a bone. Sprains and strains tend to share similar symptoms, including pain, swelling, and bruising in the injured area; they also share similar treatments depending on the severity of the injury.
Concussion
One of the scariest injuries that is common while playing summer sports is a concussion, which happens when the brain is violently shaken inside the skull due to trauma. In sports, this can occur as athletes collide or upon impact from a fall onto the head.
Fractures
It is difficult to break a bone – but if the trauma is direct and strong, the bone can break. Fractures vary by degree of seriousness: A clean break where the bone fragments remain inside the skin is a simple fracture, whereas a crushed bone or a bone with multiple breaks is a complex fracture. A simple fracture usually only requires a cast, whereas a complex fracture will likely require surgery.
Orthopedic Surgeons in Maryland
The medical team at Greater Chesapeake Hand to Shoulder treats sports injuries of the hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder. Orthopedic surgeons, plastic surgeons, and other medical specialists can provide care to patients who suffer from injuries resulting from sports and other activities.
If you have any questions about our practice or would like to schedule a consultation with one of our orthopedists, contact our friendly staff today by calling us at (410) 296-6232 or by filling out our appointment request form online now. We look forward to helping you get back in the game!
