Muscle Cramps
Muscle cramps are a common issue that athletes deal with all the time. Muscle cramps can occur at the worst possible time and can be quite painful. Trainers are often needed to help athletes stretch to alleviate a cramp. Cramps are mainly caused by two reasons; nutrition and/or lack of hydration or a lack of conditioning or stretching. High-quality proteins, fruits, vegetables, and easily digestible carbohydrates are excellent choices not just for a pregame meal, but also as a consistent diet for athletes. Combining such a diet with steady water intake will go a long way to prevent muscle cramps.
Muscle Strains
Poor conditioning increases susceptibility to muscle strains. When a muscle or group of muscles is placed under a heavy workload but lacks the conditioning, the risk for injury increases. A muscle strain is, in most cases, a mild form of injury that, depending on the severity, won’t limit an athlete for very long. Being consistent in the weight room and devoting time to flexibility and mobility drills are key to avoiding muscle strains. The most common muscle strains include hamstrings, abdominals (obliques), groin (adductors), and calf muscles.
Ankle Sprains
Ankle sprains are another very common sports injury, especially in cutting sports that require a lot of back and forth movement. In cases of severe ankle sprains, a fracture can occur in the distal end of the fibula or in extreme cases both the tibia and fibula. This type of injury can result in an athlete being placed in a walking boot for an extended period and may require the use of crutches.
ACL Injuries
Knee pain is typically the third most common condition seen in orthopedic and sports medicine clinics. If an athlete hears a pop or snap sound in the knee area they should get it evaluated as quickly as possible. Other potential ACL injury signs are swelling around the knee, inability to walk, and severe knee pain. ACL injuries occur when the anterior cruciate ligament is overly stretched or torn. The recovery time frame from an ACL injury varies and these types of injuries often result in a need to see a qualified orthopedic surgeon.
Shin Splints
Running is a great mode of exercise that requires as much mental toughness as it does physical. One of the more common injuries associated with running is ‘shin splints.’ This is pain felt across the front of the lower leg that is usually only painful when running. The treatment for shin splints usually starts with suggesting a new pair of running shoes and relative rest. If pain persists, seeking advice from a medical doctor and physical therapy are the next treatment options.
If you or a family member are dealing with any of the above and the symptoms have not improved, you should book an appointment with an orthopedic and sports medicine specialist. While most aches and pains do improve on their own, persistent issues often require formal evaluation from a musculoskeletal expert.
Our goal at the Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Institute (OSMI) is to provide our patients quality, cutting-edge orthopedic treatments, both surgical and non-surgical. If you have questions about muscle cramps, muscle strains, ankle sprains, knee pain, or shin splints please submit an online appointment request or contact our office at 817-529-1900.
Sports Medicine