Spring Sports Safety: How to Prevent and Treat Common Injuries

It’s that time again: spring sports are starting. While exciting, fun, and great for building character, they can lead to several common but often serious injuries. Here’s how to prevent them and how to treat them when they do occur.

Sports safety should always be considered, whether you’re a family headed to your child’s little league game or a senior ready to enjoy a round of pickleball. Issues like head injuries, sprains, falls, and more can affect anyone participating in spring sports.

Injury and Health Urgent Care wants you to be informed on how to prevent and treat common injuries during sports season. Melissa Kempf, MD, and Shannon Wait, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, are also available to see patients who require urgent care after an injury.

Common sports injuries: how to prevent and treat them

Head injuries

Head injuries are no joke. Unfortunately, 7 in 10 of the sports-related head injuries occur in people younger than 18. As such, it’s extremely important to be aware of the issue and help your kids — as well as any adults in your life — avoid it.

Avoiding head injuries in sports starts with proper headgear. If you’re playing a contact sport that requires a helmet, always wear one while on the field, even during practice. In addition, make sure any kids or adults who are tackling, wrestling, or otherwise colliding with other players during the game understand the safest practices.

If someone does experience a head injury, make sure they do not continue playing. Instead, perform concussion checks and keep them out of the game until their status can be determined.

If you are concerned about a possible concussion, get them to an urgent care facility or emergency department immediately.

Falls

Falls are always a danger, whether you’re a spry child playing with friends or an older adult. An injury sustained during a fall may not be obvious initially. As a result, people run back to the game too quickly, risking further injury.

To prevent falls, make sure you are always playing on the correct surface for your chosen sport. Also, wear the proper shoes for whatever game you’re playing, and be aware of your surroundings.

If a fall occurs, it’s important to do a check of any body parts that might have been injured. It can also be scary to fall, so encourage the player to take a break and relax a bit before returning to the activity.

Pain might not be obvious or immediate, so look for other signs of injury such as swelling or bruising.

Sprains and strains

Strains happen in the muscles or tendons, while sprains occur in the ligaments. Either is very common in sports, and you’ll want to apply many of the same tactics to avoid them.

One way to avoid sprains and strains is to stretch before any physical activity. This warms and loosens the muscles and ligaments, reducing the likelihood of injury.

Additionally, make sure you learn the proper form for any exercise or skill you’re attempting. Always work up to more challenging moves; never go from zero to 60.

If you suspect a sprain or strain, try the RICE method (rest, ice, compression, elevation) and avoid training or play until the injury has healed. If you notice the pain is getting worse rather than better, interfering with rest, or you aren’t healing as expected, visit us for an evaluation.

Fractures

Fractures are cracks or breaks in bone and require medical attention. Many fractures also include sprains and strains due to the trauma that caused the break.

Any bone can be broken, but the most common in sports are ankle, wrist, and collarbone fractures. Stress fractures, tiny microcracks in the bone, are most common in the feet, toes, shins, and lower back. This type is often due to overuse or upping your training routine too quickly.

We recommend that you not return to your sport of choice until your fracture has completely healed and your provider clears you. You can’t always avoid a break, but proper sports gear, well-maintained playing surfaces, and other safety measures can help.

When should I go to a provider for a sports injury?

If you’re experiencing moderate to severe pain, the signs of a concussion or another serious injury, or just need some peace of mind, an urgent care clinic like ours is equipped to diagnose and treat common sports-related injuries, no matter your age.

Make an appointment at our San Antonio, Texas, office by calling or booking online.