5 MOST COMMON SPORTS INJURIES

Any time you step out onto the field, whatever the sport or exercise, you always run the risk of some sort of injury. Here are the 5 most common Sports Injuries.

1. Runner's Knee

Knee injuries comprise about 50% of all sports injuries.

As the name suggests, runner's knee is a common knee problem for runners, walkers, cyclists and people involved in other sports.

Runner's knee isn't really a condition itself. It's a loose term for a variety of aches and pains related to the kneecap.

2. Shoulder Injuries

Did you know the shoulder joint is the most mobile joint in the body? It is also the most common joint to dislocate in the body. About 20% of sports injuries involve the shoulder, including dislocations, sprains and strains.

Rotator cuff is a tear or strain of any of the four muscles which stabilise the shoulder joint and is the most common type of shoulder injury.

3. Ankle Sprain

A sprain is a common injury where one or more of the ligaments of the ankle is torn or partially torn. A damaged ligament causes inflammation and swelling around the affected joint. Movement of the ankle joint can be very painful when you have a sprained ankle.

The risk of a sprain is greatest during activities that involve side-to-side motion, such as basketball or tennis.

4. Tennis Elbow

Tennis elbow is a condition brought on by the overuse of arm, forearm and hand muscles.

It refers to an injury of the muscle or tendon degeneration around the outside of the elbow due to repeated backhand strokes in tennis.

Elbow injuries account for about 7% of all sports injuries.

5. Lower Back Pain

Lower back pain is an extremely common condition. According to surveys, in the United Kingdom, over 15 million people visit their GP or Physiotherapist each year complaining of back pain.

There are many types of lower back pain, such as bulging discs, back spasms, and pain reaching down the leg known as sciatica. But the most common reason for sports related back pain is simply due to improper stretching.