In Seattle high schools, a survey of sports injuries were done and different sports were studied to determine their level of risk. Injuries happened most generally in contact or stressful sports, like wrestling, football and girls’ gymnastics, and were least common in sports like tennis, swimming and baseball. Those having a moderate figure of injuries included field hockey, basketball, and soccer.
Luckily, most sports injuries are not grave, and don’t make the athlete miss greater than 3 to 5 days of practice session or competition. The injured athlete should always bear the basic obligation for proper injury management, starting and following a management plan that will ensure return to competition as safely and as rapidly as possible. Immediate treatment and proper follow-through on a sound treatment plan are most crucial. Putting off care or neglecting to follow the ordered treatment plan will extend discomfort, cut down effectiveness, and will markedly step-up the odds of undergoing another injury.
You must inform your coach or trainer regarding whatever or all injuries so that you are able to get immediate treatment and get back to the game as soon as possible. Trying to "tough it out" and play with a sore injury can hurt both the player and the team. It is better to stay out of practice 2 or 3 days when having an injury rightly treated, coming back to practice only when completely recovered.
Managing Common Sports Injuries
The common injuries found in sports training and competitions are sprains of ligaments that support bony joints, bruises, and strains of muscles and the tendons that attach the muscles to bones. Fractures or broken bones and dislocated joints are common in sports like skiing and wrestling. Lacerations (cuts) occur generally in some sports. These injuries are not typically dangerous and definitely sprains, minor bruises and strains can often be cared by the athlete.
What NOT to do when injured
1. Do not hide your injury. Report it to your coach or trainer immediately.
2. Don’t put on any type of heat to an injury without instructions from your doctor or trainer.
3. Do not treat an injury if you have no idea what’s wrong. Consult your trainer or doctor.
4. Don’t splint or tape an injured part without a doctor’s oversight.
5. Do not take any drugs unless dictated by your doctor.
6. Avoid using an injured part if it’s hurting. More "hurting" entails more injury.
7. Do not go back to practice or competition till you have a full range of motion, full strength, and full work of the injured part.
The above "don’ts" are to be altered solely under the direct care of a doctor or a qualified, expert athletic trainer (not a student trainer). The speediest way to return to effective involvement is to restrict activity as long as there’s still pain and swelling and to follow strictly the ordered rehabilitation program and any schedule of planned exercise.
Sources:
Sports Injuries Guidebook by Gotlin, Robert S
Fundamentals of Sports Injury Management by Marcia K. Anderson
