A Few Concepts Regarding Sports Medicine Russellville Residents May Benefit From

By Jennifer Cook


Sporting activities are diverse, depending on what tools are used, rules of the game and how much physical movement is involvement. Those in which a lot of body movement is involved tend to put the players at a higher risk of getting injured. Such activities include football, rugby, athletic jumps, boxing and wrestling. Others include swimming, playing hockey and baseball among others. We will look at some of the key concepts on sports medicine Russellville residents may be interested in.

The essential focus in this field of medicine is bone, joints and muscle. Tendons, nerves, ligaments and surrounding blood vessels may also be affected from time to time. This is not to say that any other injuries unrelated to the aforementioned parts is disregarded. In fact, unrelated conditions could be more life threatening and may even deserve to be addressed first.

Knee injuries are the commonest, particularly in the world of soccer and rugby. These two games involve a lot of running around and one can end up sustaining injuries in the event of slippage or being hit by the opponent. A certain ligament referred to as the anterior cruciate ligament is particularly vulnerable to injury when the knee gets twisted abnormally.

Under normal circumstances, the anterior cruciate ligament limits forward movement of the leg at the knee joint. When it gets injured, the knee becomes lax and the leg cannot be properly supported. It may be associated with pain, inflammation and limping. The victim is advised to rest the joint for an appreciable amount of time before resumption of play. This allows time for the affected tissues to heal and fall back into place. In more severe cases, surgery may be required to repair the tear. Primarily, the knee should be splinted to limit movement that may exacerbate pain and cause further injury.

Tears in the anterior cruciate ligament result in unlimited anterior movement of the tibia against the femur. This means that the individual lacks control of how their injured limb moves. As a result, they can no longer play with precision. The victim is usually in uncontrollable pain and their movement becomes compromised. It is prudent that the area is splinted to minimize pain and avoid further injury. Analgesic drugs should be used as per the recommendation of the doctor.

When the anterior cruciate ligament gets injured, the person may not be able to play in the field anymore. This is because they are at a risk of worsening the tear. In addition, the knee joint loses control and one may not play as is required of them. Furthermore, victims are usually uncomfortable and in excruciating pain. Among the initial things to do is to provide extra support for the knee by applying a splint. If the pain is too much to bear, appropriate pain medication should be administered. Sportsmen whose ligaments get torn are usually required to stay away from the field for a given period of time so that the soft tissues can heal. In selected cases, an operation may be needed.

The importance of wearing protective gear whenever a person engages in sporting activities cannot be overemphasized. This is regardless of whether the activity is a casual one or a competitive one. Injuries do not choose when to happen; they happen anytime, without expectation. As they say, it is better to be safe than sorry.

Protective tools such as helmets, knee pads, hand gloves and appropriate shoe wear among other tools come in handy during sports. It is also paramount for players to be cautious when playing against each other to prevent unnecessary injuries. When all is said and done, there is need to be extra cautious and a swift response by the health care team goes a long a way in keeping players fit and healthy.




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