Common Sports-Related Injuries
Many people choose to play sports for recreation or for fitness. However, rigorous physical activity can be dangerous and cause a range of injuries. Common sports injuries include:
Strains
Sprains
Bone fractures
Bone breaks
Head injuries
Heat-related illnesses
Although any of these injuries can have serious consequences, two of the most serious types of sports-related injuries are injuries to the head and heat-related illnesses.
Head Injuries
One of the most serious types of head injury is a concussion, caused by a sudden sharp blow to the head that bruises the brain. Concussions vary in severity depending on the circumstances of the accident. Most concussions are not life-threatening, although they can cause temporary or permanent physical or mental disability or brain damage.
Players of high-impact sports may suffer from concussions after an accident on the field. Symptoms of a concussion may include:
Confusion or memory loss
Nausea, dizziness, and vomiting
Slurred speech
Blurred vision
Coordination loss
Athletes may experience concussions after high-impact collisions with other players or after falls. It is important to seek medical assistance immediately to prevent further adverse consequences.
Heat-Related Illnesses
If an athlete becomes severely dehydrated, he or she may suffer from one of many heat-related illnesses. While dehydration is treated simply with rest and consumption of fluids, more serious conditions, such as heat stroke, can be life-threatening. When playing sports, be sure to drink plenty of water or sports drinks in order to rehydrate, and take adequate breaks out of the sun. If you experience any of the following conditions after an extensive period of physical exertion, you should seek rest, hydration, and medical assistance immediately to avoid heat stroke:
Muscle cramps
Dizziness and weakness
Skin that is red and itchy
Cool, pale skin
Increased pulse
When working out or playing sports, the body has specific warning signs to let you know it needs rest or fluids. It is of the utmost importance to heed these signals to avoid serious illness. Sadly, many people ignore important warning signs from their own bodies, or coaches, trainers, and teammates fail to take heat-related illnesses seriously, leading to an increase in the severity of the condition if the victim continues to perform physical activity. The most severe heat-related conditions can even result in death of the victim if he or she does not receive immediate medical attention.