Sports Injuries

What are sports injuries?

Sports injuries are injuries that occur during physical activity, exercise, or sports. They can affect muscles, bones, joints, tendons, ligaments, or soft tissues and may occur suddenly or develop over time. 

The injuries are common among athletes, weekend warriors, and anyone who stays active. Sports injuries often result from accidents, improper technique, overuse, inadequate warm-ups, or contact with another player or object.

What are the different types of sports injuries?

The different types of sports injuries include:

Acute injuries

Acute injuries happen suddenly and usually cause immediate pain, swelling, or limited movement. Examples include sprains, fractures, dislocations, muscle tears, and contusions (bruises). 

Chronic injuries

Chronic injuries, also called overuse injuries, develop gradually due to repetitive motion or ongoing stress on the body. Common examples include tendonitis, stress fractures, shin splints, and runner’s knee. 

Some sports injuries also involve inflammation, instability, or long-term wear-and-tear on joints and soft tissues.

How do sports injuries differ from other injuries?

Sports injuries differ from other types of injuries mainly because of how and why they occur. While everyday injuries often result from accidents such as falls or car incidents, sports injuries are typically linked to repetitive motion, training intensity, or physical demands placed on the body. 

Your biomechanics, conditioning level, equipment, and playing surfaces can all influence your risk of injury. Sports injuries also tend to affect specific body parts depending on the activity, such as shoulder injuries in swimmers, knee injuries in runners, or ankle injuries in soccer players. 

Recovery involves healing, in addition to restoring strength, flexibility, coordination, and performance.

How are sports injuries treated?

At Arise and Ankle, treatment for sports injuries depends on the type, severity, and location of the injury. Mild injuries may respond well to rest, activity modification, ice or heat therapy, compression, and anti-inflammatory medications. 

Dr. Stephens may recommend physical therapy to improve your strength, mobility, and stability while reducing the risk of reinjury. More moderate to severe injuries may require bracing, injections, or advanced rehabilitation programs. 

In some cases, especially when there’s significant tissue damage or instability, Dr. Stephens may recommend surgical treatment followed by structured recovery and guidance for returning to your sport.

If you’re dealing with pain, limited movement, or an injury that’s not improving on its own, turn to Dr. Stephens for professional care. Schedule an evaluation today by phone or online.