When to Visit ER for Summer Sports Injuries
Summer means going out for an evening bike ride, heading to the golf course, and having fun at the pool. All roads lead to outdoor activities to take advantage of the extended daylight hours and the warmth. Almost everyone wants to enjoy the outdoors after the bleak winter months. Staying active and in shape while enjoying yourself is the best way to go in the summer.
But as you already know, summertime is the perfect storm for all outdoor lovers. Increased physical activities, especially sporting activities, leads to frequent visits to our emergency room in Harker Heights.
Participating in sports, whether for fun or competitively, places demands on your feet and hands, leading to a myriad of musculoskeletal injuries that might need immediate medical care. Let’s check out some of the typical summer sports injuries.
What Are the Common Sports Injuries That Can Happen In Summer?
Most of the people who partake in various sporting activities during summer might experience any of the following common summer sports injuries:
Strains
Most sporting activities will cause you to move more than your body is used to, which might lead to strains. Strains occur when you stretch a muscle or tendon beyond its normal range. It can also mean a partial or total tearing of a tendon or muscle.
Tendons connect muscles to bones and are very strong. So, to tear a tendon, you must be straining your muscles. You will experience pain, bruising, swelling, and inflammation at the injured site.
Sprains
On the other hand, sprains occur when there is partial or total tearing of a ligament. Ligaments are different from tendons since they connect bones to bones. If you have a partially torn or stretched ligament, it can independently heal if you rest and care for it. However, if the ligament is torn, there is no choice but to undergo surgery to restore movement.
Fractures
Bones are usually sturdy and aren’t easily broken. This quickly changes if there is significant direct trauma to the bone, which can fracture or break. The fracture will vary in severity depending on the force.
For instance, if there is a clean break and the bone fragments remain in the skin, this is considered a simple fracture. If a bone has multiple breaks, then it is a complex fracture. A simple fracture can be solved using a cast, but a complex fracture will need surgery.
Concussion
One of the sports injuries that is common yet scary is a concussion. It happens when the brain shakes violently inside the skull because of trauma. It can occur when you collide with another person or if you fall and bump your head.
Overuse Injuries
When actively participating in sports, you might develop injuries due to overuse. For instance, bones can develop hairline cracks, known as stress fractures. These injuries happen when you are overworking your body. You will experience pain and inflammation that increase with your activity level.
How Are These Injuries Treated?
Summer sports injuries can vary in severity, meaning there is no single way to treat each injury. Sometimes, your injury will need some rest and self-care, and you will be on your way. Sometimes, you will need professional care; therefore, you must find your way to our emergency room in Harker Heights.
When you come in for treatment, you can expect your treatment to involve the following:
- Injections to alleviate pain and swelling
- Physical therapy to strengthen and heal injured body parts
- Prescription anti-inflammatory medication
- Immobilization with a splint, cast, walking boot, etc.
- Surgery to repair ligament, cartilage, or tendon tears and to correct fractures.
How Can You Reduce the Risk of Summer Injuries?
Several prevention strategies for preventing sports injuries exist, and some of them are:
- Stretch before and after a workout
- Warm up before engaging in sporting activities and cool down afterward
- Start slowly and build gradually
- Learn proper techniques and apply them whenever engaging in sporting activities
- Mix up your routine since your body needs a combination of strength training, flexibility, and cardiovascular exercise
- Wear the proper shoes and use safety gear
When Can You Visit the ER?
Some injuries need very little care, but if you notice any of the following signs, that might indicate your life is in danger, or you risk losing a limb. They include:
- Sudden dizziness and fainting
- Vision changes
- Heart palpitations
- Difficulty breathing
- Speaking difficulties
- Sudden or severe pain
- Severe abdominal pain
- Deep cuts
- Broken bones
- Dislocated joints
- Confusion
- Uncontrolled bleeding
- Difficulty walking
You can apply the above strategies and more to reduce the risk of being injured during sports this summer. But if an accident occurs, contact us at Express Emergency Room in Harker Heights.