Navigating Sports Injuries: Finding the Right Support Through Adversity

If there's one thing most sportspersons dread, apart from poor performance, it's injury. Whether you're a professional athlete or a gully sport expert, you've probably had your fair share of falls and fractures. Most avoidable sports-related injuries, according to specialists, are caused by dangerous exercising settings or inappropriate training methods, and these injuries can be acute or chronic.

Acute injuries occur suddenly during physical activity and cause trauma such as a pulled back muscle, torn knee ligament, or bruised joints. On the other hand, chronic injuries, also known as overuse injuries, result from overusing a body part when playing a sport or exercising for long periods

Trauma to injury-prone areas can cost a player both professionally and financially while also having to bear the excruciating discomfort and pain. In addition to career setbacks, the expenses incurred in treating sports injuries are quite high compared to preventive measures.

A 2019 Research And Markets report suggests that the global sports medicine market will reach $9.25 billion by 2026.

Most Common Sports Injuries

We're all worried about injuries, whether at the international or gully level! A sprained ankle, a dislocation, and your dreams of winning the school relay can stop before the finish line. Some common sports injuries and vulnerabilities are listed below.

Ankle

Most ankle injuries include sprains, strains, and fractures. One wrong step on an uneven surface can lead to a painful ankle sprain or strain on the Achilles tendon which can be quite painful. The ankle joint is quite susceptible to trauma, and therefore strengthening it with the correct stretches and exercises becomes all the more important.

Knee

The knee is a complex joint with multiple parts and is prone to various injuries — dislocation and fractures being the most frequent. Tendon tears and collateral ligament injuries are among the other common knee injuries that can occur on the field and several sports persons often limp off the field due to the same.

Also read: Understanding the structure and form of the knee

Back

Did you know that about 20% of all injuries in sports involve the lower back or neck? Most of these are either sprains of the ligaments or strains of the muscle caused primarily by the overuse of certain structures of the spine.

Also read: Swimming: The Answer to Your Back and Knee Pain

Shoulder

After corrective surgery on her torn shoulder muscle, Maria Sharapova returned to win a Grand Slam. Several baseball pitchers and volleyball players often suffer from throw injuries due to repetitive overhand motions. The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the body and the most vulnerable. Rotator cuff injury, dislocations, and tears are the most common shoulder injuries in sports.

Elbow and Wrist

About 25% of all sports injuries involve the hand or wrist. As safe as it sounds, Tennis Elbow is the worst kind of pain a sports person can suffer from. On the other hand, Golfer's Elbow is an injury that affects the tendon on the inner side of the elbow.

Hand/wrist injuries that include sprains, fractures and contusions usually occur in stick-and-ball sports and full-contact sports. It is no surprise then that elbow and wrist injuries are estimated to grow at 7.62% from 2019 to 2026.

Sports injuries can be frightening and hinder movement. And nothing is more frustrating for a sports ninja than having to stay in bed with a sprain or tear. However, by wearing various kinds of braces like a Tennis Elbow Support that support the injured area, athletes can continue playing without hindrance.

Role of Braces in Preventing Sports Injuries and Therapeutic Rehabilitation

Braces primarily support and stabilise the injured body part along with relieving pain. For example, a knee brace provides essential support for the side-to-side movement of the knee. For all you know, your favourite NBA players are perhaps wearing ankle braces to prevent injury or to support weak ankles.

Tennis players and golfers often use elbow braces to support the joints and reduce strain on the affected area. Back braces on the other hand improve posture and elongate the spine. And in case of back injuries, braces immobilise the injured areas and stimulate faster recovery.

Many sports physicians and therapists vouch for the effectiveness of braces in assisting in physical therapy.

The Right Type of Brace For The Right Part

If we are, to be honest, sports (or any kind of athletic activity) can be a bit of a double-edged sword. While it's great for physical and mental health, it also increases the risk of getting injured. Thankfully, several sports orthotics are designed specifically to help an injured athlete bounce back or prevent injury altogether.

For example, sports coaches often recommend knee caps that support and provide stability to the knee. Vissco's knee cap provides compression and warmth to the knee, thanks to its soft fabric and ergonomic fit.

On the other hand, Vissco's 2D ankle support is designed to smoothly blend in with whatever you wear daily — making it both stylish and medically effective! Are you a professional athlete or fitness-conscious person looking for the right kind of support during physical activity?

Explore Vissco’s wide range of ergonomically designed and effective aids and #TakeTheNextStep.