Health Tips

With the Tokyo 2020 Olympic games being the highlight of the week for many of us, we witness many victorious moments of our favourite athletes on screen, however we often do not get to see the hardships that they have to go through behind the scenes! Sports injury is fairly common among athletes, it can happen during preparation of the game, during the match or even post competition. Let’s dive deeper into these topics to appreciate our dedicated athletes who are bringing glory to our nation!

What are the 10 most common olympic injuries?

1. Sprains

2. Muscle strains

3. Tendonitis

4. Fractures

5. Concussions 

Sprains

A sprain is an injury to the band (ligament) which connects two or more bones to a joint. Ligaments are strong band-like structures around joints, which attach bones together and give support to joints. A damaged ligament causes inflammation, swelling, and bleeding (which shows as bruising) around the affected joint. A ligament can be injured, usually by being overstretched during a sudden abnormal movement. The ligaments at the side of the ankle are the ones most commonly sprained. The affected joint usually is in pain under this condition.

Muscle strains

A muscle strain refers to an overstretching and tearing of muscles fibres or tendons.

A strain is a non-medical term for a muscle injury. It is used to refer to an overstretching or tear of muscle fibres. Most strains occur either because the relevant part has been stretched beyond its limits, or it has been forced to pull (contract) too strongly. Most sprains and strains are hard to distinguish as they both present as muscle pain.

Fractures

A break or crack in a bone is called a fracture. In most cases the damage to the bone will be under the skin, which is called a closed fracture, but sometimes bits of the bone can puncture through the skin to become an open fracture.

Signs of a fracture would include:

1. Swellings

2. Difficulty in moving.

3. Movement in an unnatural direction.

4. A limb that looks shorter, twisted or bent.

5. A grating noise or feeling.

6. Loss of strength.

Fracture should be treated cautiosly, therefore first aid/medical help should be provided as soon as possible after the injury.

Tendonitis

Tendinitis is inflammation or irritation of a tendon — the thick fibrous cords that attach muscle to bone. The condition causes pain and tenderness just outside a joint.

Tendonitis usually happens when overuse or injury puts strain on the tendons. Tendonitis commonly occurs at the elbow, knee and ankle. Treatment includes rest, ice and heat treatment, and over-the-counter pain killers. Without treatment, it can result in a rupture, which may need surgery.

Some studies have shown that the risk of tendon damage is increased by the frequent use of corticosteroids, therefore patients are advised to stop the use of corticosteroids if they are taking any while having a tendonitis.

Concussions

Concussion is a brain injuury that is usually caused by a sudden blow post accident,causing your brain to move within your skull. This interferes with the electrical signals inside your brain and has other effects, including the release of chemicals that interfere with the way the brain normally works. Concussion if left untreated might lead to internal bleeding in the brain. Severity of concussion differs from person to person, mild conditions would include symptoms of:

• Be slow to get up.

• Be unsteady on their feet.

• Fall over.

• Walk with their legs wide apart or just appear not to be coordinated.

• Appear dazed, with a blank or vacant look.

• Be confused and not aware of where they are or what they have been doing.

What is the PRICE Procedures?

Price Procedures

• P - protect from further injury (for example, protect the ankle by a support or high-top boots).

• R - rest the joint for 48-72 hours following injury. For example, consider the use of crutches for a few days if it is your leg that you have injured.

• I - ice should be applied as soon as possible after injury, for 15-20 minutes every two or three hours (during daytime) for the first 2-3 days. Do not put ice directly next to skin, as it may cause ice burn. Gently press the ice pack on to the injured part. The coldness is used to reduce blood flow to the damaged ligament. This may limit pain, inflammation and bruising. Do not leave ice on the skin for too long.

• C - compression with a bandage will limit swelling, helps to rest the joint or muscle. 

• E - elevation aims to limit and reduce any swelling. For example, keep your leg up on a chair to at least hip level when you are sitting, if it is your leg you have injured. Or if it is your arm, use a sling for a day or two.

A WORD FROM DOC2US

If you have any questions related to mild sports injuries, you can consult our professional doctors and healthcare professionals on Doc2Us. Doc2Us is a mobile application that allows you to talk to a doctor or any healthcare professionals via text chat at any time and from anywhere. For better communication, you can even send our online doctor images or voice messages related to your medical inquiry.

Download Doc2Us app on Apple App Store, Google Play Store and Huawei App Gallery; or use our web chat at https://web.doc2us.com/

Note: Doc2Us is not for medical emergencies. In the event of urgent medical conditions, please call 999.

Disclaimer: As a service to our users and general public, Doc2Us provides health education contents. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

References

1. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sprains/symptoms-causes/syc-20377938

2. https://patient.info/brain-nerves/head-injuries/concussion

3. https://www.wheelessonline.com/muscles-tendons/

4. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tendinitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20378243

Written by

Ms Jean Lau