The first step in injury prevention training is to recognize the types of injuries that are most likely to occur in certain sports activities. Of course, virtually any sport has the potential to cause almost any type of injury. However, certain sports can be more closely associated with some injuries than others.
A sports injury can involve damage to the bones, joints, soft tissues (e.g., tendons, ligaments, muscles and nerves) or organs, such as the brain (e.g., traumatic brain injury). Here’s a look at some examples of common sports injuries and the activities that are most closely associated with them:1
- Patellar tendinitis: Also called “jumper’s knee,” patellar tendinitis occurs when the tissue in the knee sustains inflammation or an injury. This injury is often associated with sports activities that involve lots of jumping, such as basketball and volleyball.
- Rotator cuff injuries: The rotator cuff in the shoulder is a complex area that provides stability to the shoulder. It’s susceptible to repetitive usage injuries. These can be caused by activities such as swimming, baseball and tennis.
- Achilles tendinitis: The Achilles tendon connects the heel to the calf muscle. It can become inflamed or injured when playing sports that require lots of running, such as baseball, football and soccer.
Now that you know the most common injuries in your chosen sport(s), you can take steps to potentially reduce their risk. For instance, if you think you are at a higher risk of an Achilles tendon injury, you can pay particular attention to that part of the body when stretching.
