Sports Injuries

Find out more about your injury including symptoms, treatment and exercises.

Sports Injuries by body area

Click to select sports injuries by locaton or area of the body.

Foot

Foot injuries including heel pain, midfoot, forefoot, inside of the foot, outside foot, toe pain, and pain in the arch of the foot.

Ankle

Ankle injuries including sprains, strains, and fractures, as well as pain on the inside, outside, back, and front of the ankle.

Shin

Overuse and acute injuries causing shin pain including shin splints, pain on the inside and outside of the shin.

Calf

Calf injuries including muscle strains and tears, as well as pain at the back and inside of the lower leg.

Knee

Knee joint injuries including sprains, strains, and cartilage tears, as well as pain on the outside, inside, front, and back of the knee.

Thigh

Thigh injuries including hamstrings at the back, quadriceps at the front of the thigh, and groin injuries on the inner thigh.

Hip

Sport-related injuries causing pain on the outside of the hip, front of the hip, as well as vague hip pain deep in the joint.

Lower back

Acute, sudden-onset and chronic overuse injuries resulting in low back pain, sciatica, and nerve-related conditions.

Upper back & neck

Sports-related pain including muscle strains, whiplash, postural tension, and nerve injuries affecting the upper back and neck.

Shoulder

Shoulder injuries including dislocations, muscle strains, and rotator cuff tears, as well as pain at the front, back, and top of the shoulder.

Elbow

Acute elbow injuries, for example ligament sprains, as well as chronic overuse injuries such as tennis elbow.

Wrist

Sudden-onset wrist injuries, for example sprains, strains, and fractures. Also chronic overuse injuries such as tendonitis.

Hand & Fingers

Sports injuries to the hand and fingers including finger sprains, dislocations, mallet finger, and contusions.

Head

Head injuries in sport including concussion, headaches, and more serious brain injuries.

Chest

Chest pain in athletes including cardiac chest pain, muscle strains, and rib fractures.

Abdominal

Abdominal and stomach pain in sport including muscle strains, winding, and contusions.

Types of Sports Injuries

We often classify injuries into sudden onset acute, and gradual onset, overuse injuries.

Acute sports injuries

Acute injuries refer to sudden and often traumatic injuries that occur during sports or vigorous physical activity. These injuries typically occur due to a specific incident or and can affect various parts of the body. For example, acute sports injuries include sprains, strains, fractures, dislocations, and contusions. Specifically, injuries occurs to bone, cartilage, muscles, tendon and other soft tissue.

Sprains involve the stretching or tearing of ligaments that connect bones and provide stability to joints. Strains occur when muscles or tendons, which join bone to muscle are stretched or torn. Fractures are breaks or cracks in bones, which vary in severity from hairline fractures to complete breaks. Dislocations happen to joints when the bones are forced out of their normal position. Contusions, or bruises, occur when blood vessels beneath the skin are damaged due to a direct blow or impact.

Acute sports injuries often require prompt medical attention. Often this means the PRICE protocol of protection, rest, ice, compression and elevation.

Overuse & chronic sports injuries

Overuse or chronic sports injuries develop gradually over time due to repetitive stress or strain. Unlike acute injuries that occur suddenly, chronic injuries typically result from overuse, improper technique, inadequate rest and recovery, or biomechanical imbalances. They develop gradually over time so you may not know a specific point in time when you injury occured.