Everything You Need to Know About Groin Strains

 Groin strain could be defined as a sports injury that affects the adductor muscles or muscles present in the inner thigh. Sudden movements such as twisting, kicking, jumping, and changing direction while running generally trigger a severe groin strain. The following write-up specifies symptoms, risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment. Please check it out now.

Symptoms

A renowned sports medicine doctor said that symptoms of groin strains range from moderate to severe based on the extent of the injury. They include:

·         Pain that starts in the inner thigh and then spread down to the knee and up to hip

·         Alleviates strength in upper leg

·         Bruising

·         Inflammation

·         Difficulty running or walking

·         A pop sound when the injury occurs

Risk Factors

The most crucial risk factor for groin strains is indulging in a physical activity that involves jumping, kicking, and turning abruptly. Needing to change directions often is also considered a risk.

The athletes who are most likely to get groin strains are ice hockey and soccer players. However, you are at risk if you play football, basketball, rugby, tennis, and do martial arts and skating. Athletes who do not train during offseason lose muscle flexibility and strength at a faster pace. This puts them at a huge risk.

 

Diagnosis

Your doctor will first ask you how the injury happened and find out if the circumstances indicate groin strain. Next, the doctor will perform a comprehensive physical examination. This involves stretching the adductor muscles and testing the motion range. Any pain you feel will help your doctor identify where the injury is exactly located.

Could the injury be something else?

Groin strains are confused with several other issues. You may suffer from similar symptoms if you have:

·         Stress fracture - a hairline breakage in the pubic bone

·         Bursitis - swelling of the fluid inside the hip joints

·         Hip sprain - swelling of the muscles or tendons of the hip

Your doctor starts with X-ray and then follows up with MRI scan to rule out other injuries and authorize the diagnosis.

Treatment

Your chief objective will be to reduce the inflammation and pain as much as possible. For the first few days, rest as much as possible, apply ice cubes, apply compression, keep the leg in an elevated position, and take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Depending on the severity of the injury, you may have to opt for additional treatments such as massage therapy, physiotherapy, electrotherapy, and heat therapy. They speed up healing.

According to the best sports medicine doctor, the only viable way to prevent groin strains is not using the adductor muscles without preparation and proper training. If you play sports or hit the gym regularly, please strengthen and stretch those muscles. Also, continue training the entire year.

The number of days you take to recover from a groin strain depends on how fit you were before the injury. There is no concrete time frame as it is different for each individual. That being said, be ready to rest for a couple of weeks, and then you can return to your daily activities in a hassle-free manner.

 

A Detailed Overview of the Sports Injuries and Its Types

Sports injuries have now become an integral part of the athletes and even for the weekend warriors. It can be categorized as chronic or acute. In different expert studies, it was revealed that more than 90% of all the injuries in sports are either strains or contusions. Sports like soccer, hockey, etc., are more prone to cause contusions. But on the contrary, sports like sprinting and jumping causes muscle strains.

Other factors also contribute to injuries like fatigue, chronic overload, muscle architecture, improper warm-up, muscular imbalance, etc. The best way to deal with any given injury in sports is to seek attention from a professional sports medicine physician.

This post talks about different types of sports injuries that commonly happen with athletes.

·         Eye Trauma

As per the database or United States Eye Injury Registry (UNEIR), more than 13% of ocular injuries happen because of sports and recreational activities. Contact sports that do not use protective gears and involve stuff like high-speed balls are remarkably hazardous in this context.

The most common sports include cricket, squash, baseball, hockey, etc. The level of injuries can vary from minor abrasions through retrobulbar hematoma to open injuries globally.

·         Cerebral Aneurysm

It is an assimilated focal abnormal opening of the wall of an artery inside the brain. In most the cases, this injury is induced hemodynamically; the trauma could contribute to the formation.

In addition, the impact of strain and effort can trigger through hemodynamic effects. And the common outcome is that athletes suffer from the headache of variable character that was never experienced before.

·         Joint Dislocation

It is a situation in which there is a complete parting of two different enunciating bony surfaces. It usually happens because of the exertion of high-speed energy. Some common examples of dislocations include elbow, shoulder, patella, hip, finger, and knee.

Delay in the right treatment from a professional sports medicine doctor or medical consultant can cause irreparable damage to the joint surface with lifelong consequences and even post-traumatic arthritis.

·         Orbital Fractures

One of the biggest causes of traumatic injuries in sports and exercise activities. The blunt trauma to the globe can result in the orbital floor and even medial wall fractures. In some cases, it is also accompanied by fractures of the posterior. In children, the bone of the orbit is more elastic, and it can cause fracture commonly known as “trapdoor.”

·         Concussion

Also known as mild traumatic brain injury, concussion usually happens either because of a direct blow to the head or it could be the transmission of an impulsive force to the head. The symptoms of this injury are categorized into three different groups –somatic, cognitive, and effective. Combining cognitive and somatic symptoms is the most common occurrence, and it is always best to seek help from a professional sports medicine doctor.

If any of these injuries or ones apart from them, make sure to get in touch with a professional sports medicine physician to heal and recover from the same. 

How to Prevent Stress Fractures? Five Effective Ways to Consider

 

Stress fracture is known for being the most common running injury. It also accounts for approximately 45% of all other sports injuries. Why? Because our bones tolerate stress whenever a specific amount of force is inflicted on them.

The force can come from the push and pull of a muscle or from the shock of the foot or leg hitting the floor abnormally. In the following write-up, I have jotted down a few ways to prevent stress fractures. Please check them out now.

Increase Calf Flexibility

A reputed musculoskeletal doctor said stress fractures often occur due to tightness in the calves. It forces the heels to lift prematurely while running and transfers substantial force to the forefoot. To increase calf flexibility, carry out the below-mentioned steps:

·         Stand near the wall. Keep one foot in front of the other and bend the knee.

·         Lean on the wall while bending the back knee and keeping the heel firm on the ground.

·         Feel a sort of stretch in the lower portion of the calf.

·         Hold the position for at least 30 seconds.

 

2.      Consume Dairy

It will beneficial to detect the foods, dietary patterns, and nutrients that trigger stress fractures and changes bone density. By consuming skim milk and dairy products with abundant calcium, you will be able to lower the risk to a great extent. Animal protein and potassium also help.

Also read: Foods to Incorporate in Diet when Recovering from Sports Injuries

 Avoid Nonsteroidal Drugs

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs can be harmful when addressing a stress fracture. They interfere with the structural integrity of the bones and alleviate tendon repairs after a sports injury. So keep a distance from them if you wish to continue your athletic career without any hassle.

4.      Put On Proper Footwear

It is necessary to invest in proper shoes with enough support. If you are not sure what type of shoes will help, please ask the staff at the sneaker stores. The footwear is considered ideal if it feels compatible with the overall shape of your foot.

You may have neutral, high, or flat arches. For the neutral, moderate stability shoes are believed to best. Flat-footed need shoes with high stability. High arches must select cushioned shoes that guarantee midsole padding.

5.      Allow Bones to Heal Properly

Early return to the field and gym can pave the way for irreversible complications. If you already got a stress fracture, please go through an MRI before resuming training. If the bones are yet to heal, take rest and limit movement.

According to a renowned musculoskeletal doctor, prevention and immediate intervention are preferred, but it is quite challenging to predict injuries. The athletes, after all, are different from one another in terms of the training methods they follow, their biomechanical predisposition, and other factors – muscle stretch, flexibility, diet, etc. A typical treatment plan comprises of two phases. The first phase includes medications and physical therapies, while the second one focuses on endurance and gait drills.

How can the Teen Athletes Avoid Injuries? Six Tricks to Try

 There is nothing more exciting for a teen athlete than hearing the fellow students cheering while he or she kills the basket or score a winning touchdown.

Athletes need to challenge their minds and body every day, and it is only natural to get hurt once or twice while doing so. While home remedies, OTC medications, and surgeries are available to cure sports injuries, this write-up describes ways to prevent them from occurring. Please check it out right now.

Nutrition

Adhering to a nutritious diet is perhaps the best way of keeping strains, concussions, fractures, etc. at bay. Just like a car needs fuel to operate efficiently, a body needs food. Your meal must contain 40% carbohydrates, 30% proteins, and 30% fats. Drink at least three to four litres of water.

Stretch, Warm-Up, and Cool Down

A top orthopedic sports doctor said athletes must stretch and warm-up before an activity and cool down properly after to enhance the performance and avoid injury. Warming up makes the muscles flexible while cooling down allow the sore joints to recover within a short period.

Rules

The athletes get injured because they are not aware of the rules of sports and plan on not abiding by them. Knowing the rules will keep you as well as your team members safe. If you play football, make sure to form tackle correctly and do not spear the opponents.

Conditioning

The athletes are prone to injuries when their body is not conditioned properly. In other words, they indulge in a physical pursuit without practicing for the necessary hours. You must hit the gym or perform a definite workout regimen at home that will increase your strength to a great extent.

Equipment

Protective gears are a must. You cannot enter a field without wearing a helmet, gloves, goggles, knee pads, shoes, mouthpieces, etc. These must fit properly and last for a prolonged period with little or no maintenance. Do not bargain too much because, in the end, you get what you paid for.

Rest

The biggest challenge for a teen athlete is to sit at home and rest while the others are playing. Yes, he or she tries to perform through injuries, which paves the way for irreversible complications. Listen to your body and act accordingly. If your legs are aching abnormally, stop running, and call it a day. There is nothing wrong in taking breaks now and then.

If an athlete sprains the ankle or dislocates the shoulder even after following the ways stated above, he or she must visit an orthopedic sports doctor. Taking rest when injured is mandatory, but, keep the blood flowing by walking short distances, or else getting back in the game will be quite difficult.

Six Habits of Pro Athletes to Keep Injuries at Bay

It does not matter if you play sports to pass your time, or are a professional athlete, you must be acquainted with almost all kinds of injuries. While seeking medical assistance when you get hurt seems viable, in the following write-up, I have chalked down a few habits, which, when cultivated, can let you perform better and keep you as safe as possible. Please check them out right now.

1.    Begin with a Warm-up

Before participating in any physical pursuit, you must warm-up and prepare your muscles. A renowned sports medicine physician said by doing arm circles, jumping jacks, pushups, squats, and lunges, you are preparing your body for what is coming next. Warm-ups are known for keeping injuries at bay.

2.    Know that Recovery and Rest are Necessary

Recovery and rest are extremely necessary, especially if you have suffered from an injury. You need to restrict movement and lie on your bed for the major portion of the day and maintain a balanced diet. This will repair the sore muscles, and restore your strength in absolutely no time.

3.    Fine Tune the Coordination

It may seem exciting to change your workout regimen, but you must do it gradually. Performing a series of intricate exercises all of a sudden means putting undue pressure on your body parts. Understand this with an example. If you run four miles every day, you cannot just jump to ten miles directly. Fine-tune the coordination levels by moving from 4 to 6 and then to 8 and finally to 10 over a period of month or two.

4.    Listen to the Body

If your body is exhausted and cannot take the intense training, it will start sending signals. You will have an excruciating backache or feel utterly tired instead of rejuvenated after a practice. Listen to your body and do not push it beyond limits. Give your body a break so that it can get back on the track.

5.    Stay Hydrated
An athlete must drink at least 80 ounces of water every day. Staying hydrated is highly essential because it lubricates the joints so that they do not break easily, and keeps the body temperature at normal. If you do not drink enough water, you will feel dizzy and have muscle cramps.

6.    Strengthen the Core

 A strong core allows you to be successful in practically any athletic endeavour. Do an ab-workout for ten minutes and crunches. If you are not sure about the techniques, please get in touch with a proficient trainer.

Besides the habits stated above, a top sports medicine physician said taking a break is important even though it can be hard to resist the temptation of training nonstop. If you have opted for a rigorous session, please take at least ten minutes to focus on your body. Sit and closely observe if all your body parts are functioning properly. You never know what you will find out, maybe a tightness in the right shoulder, or a slight muscle pull.

What Must You Know About Tennis Elbow? Causes, Symptoms, and More

Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis, could be defined as the swelling of the elbow joint caused due to repetitive stress. The pain originates on the outer portion of the elbow but can radiate down the arm. You are most likely to experience discomfort when you straighten your hands. Well, to know more about this sports injury, please check out the given discussion right now.

Causes

Forearm tendons join the forearm muscles to the external bone of the elbow. Tennis elbow occurs when a certain muscle strand (extensor carpi radialis brevis or ECRB) present in the forearm is damaged. The ECRM is responsible for the wrist movement.

Constant stress weakens ECRB muscle by developing tiny tears throughout it. These tears cause excruciating inflammation. Besides tennis and other types of racquet sports, swimming, golf, abrupt turn of the key, and frequent usage of hammer or screwdriver also lead to tennis elbow.

Symptoms

According to a highly competent musculoskeletal doctor, mild elbow pain that gradually worsens is the main symptom of tennis elbow. Others include:

·         Weak grip.

·         Pain outside the elbow and in the wrist and the forearm.

·         Discomfort when lifting weights, opening jars, shaking hands, squeezing objects, or using tools.

Diagnosis

Tennis elbow is diagnosed during a comprehensive physical examination. If you are experiencing pain in the elbow, your doctor will try to detect what it is by asking about your job, what kind of sports you play, your workout regimen, etc. To confirm, he or she will carry out an MRI scan or X-ray.

Treatment

·         The foremost step is to limit movement as much as possible. Do not move the affected hand for several weeks and take rest. A doctor gives braces for immobilising the muscles.

·         Ice packs are placed on the elbow to decrease swelling and soothe the pain. Do not hold the ice for a prolonged period or else you will end up suffering from frostbites.

·         Physical therapy involves a series of exercises for reinforcing the muscles of the forearm and promoting healing. It includes massages and muscle stimulating techniques.

·         In ultrasound therapy, a probe is placed on the injured elbow. It emits sound waves at a high frequency to repair the tissues. This treatment speeds up the recovery to a great extent.

·         Injecting corticosteroid medication directly into the tendons attached to the bone of the elbow or the muscle largely cuts down inflammation.

Surgery becomes mandatory when the symptoms do not alleviate even after a year. Arthroscopy is used for removing the dead tissues from inside the elbow and reattaching healthy muscles to the bone.

According to a renowned sports physician, wearing the right type of equipment and adhering to the rules of activity prevents tennis elbow to a great extent. Other safety measures include performing exercises to maintain the flexibility as well as the strength of arms, and resting the elbow or applying ice cubes to it. Also, take breaks. Otherwise, you pave the way for unnecessary complications.

5 Common Sports Injury Myths You Should Never Believe

Dealing with sports injuries is not that easy as it sounds, especially when you do not seek help from highly professional doctors. Whether it is about treating mild or severe injuries, sports medicine physicians have the ability to help patients in the best possible ways. 

In the below section, some of the common myths and factors regarding sports injuries are discussed. Please keep on reading now.

1. ACL Tear Will End Your Career
ACL tear is a serious injury that needs special care and treatment. But the good thing is, it is treatable, and it is not career-ending. As long as you see a highly qualified sports injury doctor and take proper care of yourself, it will not affect your career.

Surgeries, medications, and exercise work excellently when it comes to treating this injury. As per studies, a large share of international and national athletes has come back stronger from this injury and joins sports again.

2. Rest Is the Only Option

Athletes, who have minor strains or sprains, do not need to take complete rest. Activity modification instead of complete rest is usually recommended to patients who have mild injuries. Athletes who have major injuries often become able to reduce or eliminate symptoms by doing some exercise.

3. Heat Therapy Is the Best Option for Treating Acute Injuries
Acute injuries usually cause inflammation and pain. Athletes usually go for cold therapy in order to reduce swelling. Heat therapy also helps relieve pain sometimes, but this will increase swelling. This is why heat therapy cannot always be considered as the best option.

4. No Pain No Gain
A large number of athletes believe that they need to endure pain in order to get stronger. But, this is not true in all cases. Exercise should be challenging and stimulating, but it does not mean that you should do something which is beyond your ability. Make sure you consult a doctor of sports medicine if you feel pain during training or exercise.

5. No Need to See a Sports Doctor
Not all injuries can be treated through home remedies. In order to treat mild injuries, athletes may use RICE treatment and other natural ways. But, when it comes to treating severe injuries, it is better to seek help from highly qualified and trained sports medicine physicians. They know the best ways of how to deal with unbearable pain and other sports injury symptoms.

When choosing a doctor, do not forget to check his or her track records and experience. By doing so, you will be able to make the correct choice. Researching can also help you find the right sports injury doctor. Although it may take some time to find the right one, it is better to invest some time rather than making the wrong choice.