There’s always a chance you can be injured while playing sports whether you’re a seasoned athlete or a weekend player. Muscles can be overextended and joints can turn the wrong way.

Unfortunately, once you’ve suffered from a sports injury it can be difficult to determine on your own what exactly is causing your pain. In some cases, an ice pack and rest can do the trick, but when it doesn’t an orthopedic doctor is your best option.

Here are some of the most common sports-related injuries and what you can do to avoid them:

1. Ankle sprains. Ankle sprains can happen when there’s too much movement in your foot or ankle. Sprains most often occur when the ligament on the outside of your ankle has become overextended. This is also called “rolling” your ankle. To prevent an ankle sprain, be sure to stretch before and after you exercise. It also helps to do special exercises to better strengthen the muscles surrounding your ankle.
2. Hamstring strains. Hamstring strains happen to all kinds of athletes. They occur when the hamstring muscles have become overloaded. To prevent hamstring strains from happening, warm up prior to exercising and strengthen your glutes.
3. Knee injuries. Among knee injuries, the ACL tear is the most infamous. Still, you can suffer from many different types of knee injuries. You may not be able to prevent yourself from slips, trips, or the impact of another player, but you can warm up before exercise, stretch, and strengthen your knee muscles.
4. Groin pulls. Groin pulls are when you’ve overextended the muscles on the inside of your thigh. These types of injuries are most common in soccer players and other athletes who put a lot of strength in kicking. To avoid groin pulls, you’ll want to regularly stretch and strengthen your adductor muscles. Don’t attempt to use them without proper training ahead of time.

Looking for an orthopedic doctor in your area?

Up to 50% of all sports-related injuries are caused by skating, skateboarding, and bicycling. But, you can suffer from a serious injury no matter which kind of sport you play.

Whether you’re suffering from knee pain or an Achilles tendon injury, our professional orthopedic doctors have you covered. To learn about our orthopedic surgery center and different sports injury treatments, contact us today.