Whether you're a professional athlete or participate in sports for fun, you're at risk of injury. To protect your overall health, you should educate yourself about the most common sports injuries in Southern Pines, NC. Dr. Jeremy Thomas and the team at Triangle Foot & Ankle Specialist are ready to educate, diagnose and treat your sports injuries.
Sprains
When you experience a sprain, you've more than likely injured the ligaments that connect your bones. Ligaments pull or tear when they turn the wrong way, which happens frequently in sports. Athletes and sports enthusiasts probably sprain their ankles the most, but it's also common to sprain a knee, wrist, or elbow. Sprains are painful and often take more time to heal than other sports injuries in Southern Pines, NC.
Strains
When your muscle stretches farther than it's supposed to, you've likely experienced a strain. Muscle strains are among the most common injuries in sports. From hamstrings to quads to the groin area, most athletes have experienced some time of strain during their lifetime.
Back Injuries/Pain
Every sporting activity puts some level of stress on your back and spine. The more you participate in any physical activity, the more stress you're putting on your back, which can result in inflammation. Many athletes – like football players – often experience a jarring impact on their backs, which can lead to acute injuries.
Concussions
When a sudden, jarring impact on your head occurs, it can sometimes cause a concussion. Ranging from mild to severe, a concussion happens when your brain "lurches" forward or backward inside your skull. This unnatural movement can cause damage to the surrounding tissue that holds your head in place. Symptoms include dizziness, loss of memory, or loss of consciousness.
Knee Injuries
When you play most sports, your knees endure a lot of impacts. Your knees are what help you move during most physical activities. This complicated joint is the target of several types of injuries, including ligament strains, tears, and sprains. However, the injuries aren't exclusive to the ligaments in your knees. Damage to your kneecaps or joints can cause you to walk differently, which often results in persistent knee swelling, inflammation, and muscle weakness.
Visit or schedule a consultation with Dr. Jeremy Thomas and our team at Triangle Foot and Ankle Specialist by calling (910) 757-0058 to learn more about how to protect yourself from the most common sports injuries in Southern Pines, NC.