Sports injuries, like most other injuries, come with varying levels of pain. The reaction to tissue damage is the stimulation of sensory nerves and when these signals are transmitted to the brain they are perceived as pain. The intensity of pain is not necessarily an indication of the severity of damage, since the brain is crucial in interpreting the signals and this adds an experiential/emotional component to the perception. Unfortunately, examination of the injury is the only way to determine the level of damage. The degree of swelling, inflammation, bruising, and loss of mobility and stability are all key indicators of injury.
Common Sporting Injuries
Injuries are common in sports. Accidents occur, and training or improper gear can all lead to injury. Many athletic injuries are to the soft tissues of the body – the ligaments, muscles, and sometimes the nerves and joints. Below we will outline some common sporting injuries and the pain management techniques for each:
- Contusions and bruises
- Strains and sprains
- Swollen muscles
- Joint injuries to the ankle, knee, hands and shoulders
- Head injuries
Contusions and Bruises
Contusions and bruises to the body are common in contact sports. These may be very painful, and swelling may prevent normal mobility of the extremity. If on examination all structures are intact and nothing is unstable, the damage will likely heal over time. Analgesic and anti-inflammatory medications, ice and heat may be useful in the initial recovery. Physical therapy or working with a trainer can help guide you through proper exercises to strengthen injuries.
Strains & Sprains
Strains are severe stretches or tears of the muscle or attaching tendon. These can be sudden or slow to develop from repetitive activity. Common symptoms are:
- Muscle pain
- Spasm
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Trouble using the affected muscle
First treatments are icing, supportive wraps or braces, and anti-inflammatory medications. If healing is slow, physical therapy can help.
Sprains are stretches or tears of the ligaments. Injury can occur to the ligament by stressing a joint; often by fall, twisting, or excessive pulling. Sprains will include pain, swelling, bruising, and inability to move the affected joint. The same initial treatment of a strain applies to a sprain. In severe cases, surgical repair may be necessary.
Joint Injuries
Sports injuries to joints are common, especially to the ankle and foot, knees, hands and shoulders. Contusions to the joints are bruises, and are often from direct hits to the structure. Twisting injuries to the joints can cause damage to the ligaments with sprains, and internal damage to the joint itself including to the cartilage. Treatment starts the same as a sprain or strain, and may progress to surgical repair depending on the degree of damage.
The severity of a sports injury is often hard to determine initially due to pain and swelling in the region. Physician evaluation is often necessary to determine the extent of damage, pain control and to develop a treatment program to maximize healing and prevent further injury. Pain control with icing, analgesic and anti-inflammatory medications, and sometimes with corticosteroids is beneficial. Pain management often maintains mobility and facilitates healing. Physical Medicine physicians often can be some of the best doctors to help coordinate a comprehensive treatment strategy. They are experts with significant knowledge of muscles, joints, and nerves, as well as managing coordinating therapy and treatment to maximizing healing.
Author Bio:
Dr. Thomas Cohn is a pain management and physical medicine doctor at MAPS – Medical Pain Clinics. He is board-certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation with additional board-certification in pain management from the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA), the American Board of Interventional Pain Physicians (ABIPP) and the American Board of Pain Medicine (ABPM). Read more about pain management tips on his Minnesota Physical Medicine Blog.
