What is a sports injury?
A sports injury happens when the body is damaged while playing sports, exercising, or doing physical activity. It can affect muscles, ligaments, bones, joints, or tendons, and ranges from minor strains to serious fractures.
What are the most common sports injuries?
- Sprains — stretched or torn ligaments (often in the ankle or wrist)
- Strains — stretched or torn muscles or tendons
- Fractures — broken bones
- Dislocations — joints forced out of place
- Tendonitis — inflammation of tendons
- Shin splints — pain along the shin bone
Frequently Asked Questions
A sports injury is damage to muscles, bones, joints, or ligaments caused by physical activity, exercise, or sports. Injuries can happen suddenly (acute) or develop over time (chronic).
- Sprains (ligament injuries)
- Strains (muscle or tendon injuries)
- Fractures (broken bones)
- Tendonitis (tendon inflammation)
- Shin splints (leg pain)
- Pain and tenderness
- Swelling or bruising
- Difficulty moving the joint or muscle
- Weakness or instability
- Numbness or tingling (in some cases)
Recovery time depends on the injury: