Sports Injury Advice Blog - All Blog Posts

Are you feeling that radiating pain running from your buttocks and down the back of your leg? You are probably suffering from a pain that is hard to explain to anyone. The painful symptoms associated with a herniated disc injury can be very debilitating. A herniated disc injury occurs when the jelly like substance within the disc ruptures out. This is why a herniated disc is also referred to as a ruptured disc injury.

As you know, the pain associated with a herniated disc is no joke. There are a wide range of herniated disc symptoms including pain radiating from the buttocks to the lower leg, the trunk of the body is shifted to one side and you may have difficulty finding a position of comfort. Check out a more detailed explanation of the symptoms of a herniated disc.

I love the analogy that compares a herniated disc injury to a jelly donut! I know it sounds kind of funny... but it is true. This jelly like substance which we mentioned at the beginning of this article ruptures out of the disc and presses on a nerve which causes sciatica. Sciatica is the term used to describe the pain associated with a herniated disc, when that disc ruptures and presses on the sciatic nerve. Read more on pain radiating down the back of leg.

Well if you are reading this blog because you feel confident you have suffered from a herniated disc, you are probably searching for answers on what you can do to treat the injury. First off, we recommend that you go visit a medical professional and have an x-ray done to properly diagnose the injury. In the mean time it will benefit you to get your hands on a herniated disc back brace to help relieve the painful symptoms associated with the back injury. If the disc does not heal on it's own, then your medical professional may refer you to a surgeon where he will discuss performing a spinal discectomy or fusion procedure.

Let us know if you have any further questions to help you recover from your herniated disc injury. As always we will do our best at SportsInjuryAdvice.com to help your recover because we understand that "Downtime is not an option".

The US Olympic squad catches the injury bug with the loss of L.A. Clippers star Blake Griffin. This is a huge loss for team USA and it will surely creat alot of media attention. So what exactly is a torn meniscus? That is a very simple question that leads to many others.

First off, a torn meniscus is one of the most commonly seen knee injuries in all sports. See a complete list of knee injuries on our site. A tear to the meniscus typically occurs due to a sudden stopping or twisting of the knee. You really hate to see Team USA lose such a talented young player that could have offered alot to help them bring home the Gold, but it is a relief to hear that Griffin will not miss any of the upcoming season. However, you may see him hobbling around in a torn meniscus knee brace in the upcoming months.

Have you or anyone you know suffered from a torn meniscus or any other knee injury? We value your feedback and would love to hear any sports injury advice that you may have to share.

Have you ever suffered from an injury to your knee, shoulder, ankle, wrist, or any other part of the body and wondered what on earth you needed to do to recover? Finding the right sports brace is something that all elite athletes will have to do at one point or another in their career. You may ask yourself, "How do I know which brace is right for me?" The internet has many options out there to choose from and it can often times be very overwhelming trying to decide which product and brand is best for you. Here at Sports Injury Advice we partner with one of the leading online retailers in InjuryBraces.com because we know that they carry only the highest quality orthopedic sports braces in Bledsoe, Breg and Ossur. If you are looking for a high quality sports brace for injury rehab or prevention then you will need to check this site out. Let us know in the comments section what you think is important when searching for the right sports brace. It's not a matter of if you will need one in your sports career but when you will need one because everyone gets hurt at some point and needs to get back in the game.

2012 is not even half way over and we have already seen many elite athletes see their season end shortly due to injury. There is one injury that we see each and every year and that is an acl tear also referred to as a torn acl. Unlike most injuries that may cause an athlete to be out for a couple of days or possibly weeks, an acl tear is typically season or career ending. With the NBA playoffs underway we have seen this first hand with the loss of Derek Rose of the Chicago Bulls in Game 1.

So what exactly is an ACL tear and how do you recover from an injury such as this? Give us feedback on any advice you may have for those that have suffered from this injury and for further infromation you can check out our acl tear page if you click here.

Dwyane Wade has missed 8 games so far this season for the Miami Heat with a sprained ankle. Is this guy faking this ankle sprain or can you truly be impacted by an ankle sprain like this? I know that NBA fans don't have a problem seeing him off of the court but how about the Miami Heat fans.

So what exactly is an ankle sprain? Some people believe that an ankle sprain is the most commonly seen sports injury suffered every year around the world. An ankle sprain occurs when one or more ligaments in the ankle are stretched out or possibly torn.

Well in due time you will be able to find out if this guy is truly faking it or whether not he is going to make it this year. Let us know your thoughts on this injury?

What are the most commonly seen football injuries? This is a question that anyone playing the game of football should ask themselves. We all know how physical the game of football can be but are you aware of how to prevent football injuries from occuring before they even happen?

I have hit you on the head with some tough questions that will hopefully make you think for a second. If you don't know the answers to the most commonly seen football injuries and how to prevent them, it is okay because here at sportsinjuryadvice.com we have you covered with free self help advice for all of your injury concerns.

Most Commonly Seen Football Injuries

• Achilles Tendon Rupture
• ACL Tear
• Ankle Sprain
• Broken Collarbone
• Concussion
• Groin Strain
• Hamstring Strain
• Hand Fracture
• Hip Pointer
• Labrum Tear
• MCL Tear
• Neck Fracture
• Rotator Cuff Tear
• Shoulder Separation
• Stinger
• Turf Toe
• Wrist Sprain

WOW!!! Now that is a list of injuries for you. As a matter of fact, football is the sport with the highest amount of injuries suffered each and every year. The football injuries that are most commonly seen are muscle strains and joint sprains but it is also common to see more sever injuries such a concussionWWW, stinger, or acl tear.

Get all of the free football injury information you need at www.sportsinjuryadvice.com/injuries/football . We understand that "downtime isn't an option" and will do all we can to get you back on the gridiron as quickly and safely as possible.

What is a concussion? What are the long term effects of a concussion or possibly multiple concussions? These are questions that any athlete must begin to ask themselves after suffering a head injury. A concussion is a traumatic head injury that can occur due to a mild or severe blow to the head. Often times, a head injury can appear mild. However, research indicates that there are serious, long-term effects of concussions. In addition, cumulative concussions from repeated head injuries have long-term consequences.

A recent study done on the effects of concussions in high school athletes discovered that even the less severe concussions can have long lasting effects, especially if the athlete goes back to playing too soon, or has a history of head injuries.

What Happens When A Concussion Occurs?

Under normal circumstances, the brain floats in a protective pool of spinal fluid within the skull. However, certain events like a car accident or hard tackle can cause the brain to slam into the interior walls of the skull. Depending on the intensity of the injury and the brains ability to realign, the damage can be mild to severe. Most people will recover from a mild concussion within just a few hours, yet a more severe injury may cause symptoms for a number of weeks, and there may be long term effects suffered from the concussion.

For the first few minutes following a head injury, the affected party may experience a loss of consciousness, dizziness, uneven dilation of the pupils or weakness to one side of the body. In some cases, the injured individual may feel nauseated or break out in convulsions.

When Symptoms Remain

When the concussion is mild to moderate, the symptoms will dissipate within a few hours with rest. The person may still have problems with orientation or vision, but over time, the brain will recover.

However, when the sustained concussion is severe, the individual may experience an extended loss of consciousness, depression, mood swings or even bleeding in the brain. A CT Scan or MRI as soon as possible following the injury will be able to determine the severity of the concussion. Bruising and bleeding of the brain is not always considered life threatening, but undiagnosed conditions can be triggered in the event of a concussion.

Post-Concussion Syndrome

About fifteen percent of individuals who suffer a concussion experience post-concussion syndrome, with symptoms that may last for weeks after the injury is healed. In some cases, the effects of a concussion can last for a year or longer, so it is important to understand this injury to prevent the long term effects of concussions.

The reasons for post-concussion syndrome are not clear to doctors and medical researchers. No correlations between the severity of the injury and the development of post-concussion syndrome have been found. In fact, a number of researchers believe that post-concussion syndrome is entirely psychological. However, others argue that there is definitely a medical cause for the condition, even though such a cause remains unidentified.

Post-concussion syndrome tends to be somewhat more prevalent among older individuals, making age an identifiable factor for the condition. In addition, women also seem to be more at risk for being affected by the syndrome than men are.

Essentially, the symptoms of post-concussion syndrome are the same as the symptoms of a concussion that last beyond the first couple of weeks following a head injury. Post-concussion syndrome symptoms include:

•    Changes in mood, such as an increase in irritability
•    Changes in memory
•    Difficulty sleeping
•    Dizziness
•    Headache
•    Fatigue
•    Sensitivity to noise or light

Treating post-concussion syndrome begins with the treatment of the initial concussion. If you lose consciousness following a head injury, you are likely to have a concussion. If the symptoms of the concussion have not passed within a few weeks, your doctor may decide to do a follow-up MRI test to determine why the injury has not healed completely.

Often times, the severity of a head injury is underestimated. Therefore, it makes good sense to pay a visit to your doctor if you sustain a head injury that leads to the symptoms of a mild to severe concussion. It is crucial to take the proper preventative measures in order to prevent the long term effects of concussions.

 

Knowing if your ankle is sprained or broken is a tough question to answer but after reading through this page you will have a much better understanding of how to differentiate these two ankle injuries.

Ligaments are tough, rope-like fibers that connect bone to bone. When ligaments are injured, it is called a sprain. The symptoms of a severe sprain are very similar to those of a broken bone. It is impossible to know without a doubt whether a bone is broken or just sprained without an X-ray.

To someone who is not properly trained to know if someone has suffered a sprained ankle or broken ankle, it is easy to confuse an ankle sprain with a broken ankle and vice versa. When a bone is the ankle is actually fractured, it is a break. It is usually the small bone to the outside of the ankle, known as the fibula, that breaks.

How to Tell the Difference

According to research conducted by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, around 25,000 individuals sprain their ankle every day. It is important that you learn to tell the difference between a sprained ankle and a broken ankle, especially if you are an athlete who plays sports on a regular basis.

•    The first thing you should do it consider how the injury took place. If you stepped on an uneven surface, twisted your foot or lost your balance, you most likely suffered a sprained ankle. If you tripped, suffered a hard fall or experienced heavy impact, like an automobile accident, then you may very well have broken your ankle.

•    Examine your ankle to determine if there is any swelling. If the ankle is swollen and tender but you can still move it, it is a sprained ankle.

•    Rate your pain. A broken ankle will cause swelling, bruising, numbness and tenderness; however, a sprained ankle is often more painful. On the other hand, if you experience immediate, severe pain or the ankle is deformed, you most likely have a broken ankle.

•    Try to walk on your ankle. If you can walk, even if it is painful, this is an indication that the injury is just a sprain. If you cannot put any weight on the affected foot, your ankle is probably broken.

•    A professional health care provider will be able to tell you for sure if your ankle is broken or just sprained. Your doctor will take an X-ray, which will help determine for sure the exact injury. Your doctor may also decide to perform a stress test to determine if surgery is necessary and determine which ligaments you have injured.

Recovering From an Ankle Sprain

The recovery time for a sprained ankle depends on a number of different factors, including the amount of swelling present, the extent of the sprain, initial care and whether or not you choose to undergo treatment from a physical therapist.

A Grade 1 ankle sprain with minor pain and swelling will generally take one to two weeks to heal. The most common sprain, a Grade 2, can take from four to six weeks to heal. The most serious type of ankle sprain is a Grade 3, which can take from eight to twelve weeks to heal completely.

Recovering From a Broken Ankle

Recovery success from a broken ankle depends on the method of treatment that you choose. You will recover from a broken ankle much faster if you do not move the leg much, especially before treatment has been administered. If the bone has actually cracked and it becomes brittle, then the recovery time will be considerably longer.

To speed recovery of a broken ankle, refrain from putting any weight on the ankle. Use an ice pack to keep the swelling down, which will effectively reduce pain as well. Some patients will need to use a cane or crutches to help keep weight off the affected ankle.

Keep in mind if surgery is required to correct your broken ankle, recovery time will be significantly increased.

Proper Foot Alignment
When you do any activity that involves bending, it is important to ensure that your knees are lined up with your feet to avoid injury. Imagine a line that goes straight up from your feet to meet the knee. Proper foot alignment is crucial during certain activities, including lunges and squats. By being too far back or too far forward, you are placing excessive stress on the joints of your knees, and it is important to correct this in order to prevent knee injuries.

The Right Shoes
Wearing proper footwear is one of the best ways to prevent knee injuries. For example, you should not work out in street shoes, nor should you wear shoes that do not provide adequate support. Athletic shoes often carry a high price, but the additional cushion for your joints is worth every dime.

Development of the Pelvic and Thigh Muscles
Our knees have the thankless job of taking up the slack for the entire leg. Therefore, it is important to focus on building up the muscles of your pelvis and thighs in order to keep the balance as it should be. This will ensure that the workload placed on your knees stays within the healthy limits, and help aid in the process of knee injury prevention.

Warm Up
It may take you a few minutes longer, but another one of the best ways to prevent knee injuries is to warm up properly before your activities. Stretching and warming up your legs before you begin any activity that may put stress on the knees is critical.

Not only will a proper warm up reduce the risk of knee injury considerably, but it will also make the entire activity easier and keep your movements smooth. So, before you run that mile, hit the stage, go for a hike, etc., take a moment to properly warm up your legs to prevent painful injury.

Do Not Overdo It
It would be great if we all could run five miles a day, climb Mt. Everest and bench press twice our weight, but the fact is without proper training, your body is not going to hold up to overexertion. In addition, it is not a good idea to alter the intensity of your activity suddenly, instead build up to higher activity levels gradually to avoid knee injury.

If an activity is just not attainable, do not risk the unwanted stress that it will put on your knees. If you already have bad knees, keep your activities at the lowest impact level possible to help prevent knee injuries. For example, if your knees are already giving your trouble, choose an activity such as yoga or swimming over running a marathon. In addition, if you have trouble knees, you should avoid stationary bikes and Stairmasters.

It may be necessary for some individuals to wear a knee brace to accomplish certain activities without injury. Some people like to wrap their knees during activities because it feels good. Although wrapping your knees may not do any harm, it will not necessarily work to prevent knee injuries. If you do choose to wrap your knees when you participate in certain activities or at other times, make sure that you do not wrap it too tightly as that can also lead to knee injury.

Proper exercise, maintaining a healthy weight and taking the necessary precautions are the best ways to prevent knee injuries. If you have suffered a previous knee injury, a physical therapist should be able to show you some appropriate exercises to build up strength in your knees.

Most people check out a human anatomy model and are very intrigued about it but have no desire to dig in and learn the different parts. I am a strong believer that everyone should have a strong understanding of the human body and the way it functions because we only have one body and we must use it and take care of it well.

Whether you are a professional athlete or a stay at home mom, you must take time to learn about the anatomy of the human body because I am willing to guarantee you that there will come a time when you suffer from an injury, have a surgery, or are in a discussion about the human body and you will be wishing that you listened.

So where do you start when trying to learn the human anatomy? That is the million dollar question that I don't really have an answer to. However, the general rule of thumb is to start at the head and work your way down to the foot. If you are an athlete or competing in any type of physical activities on an ongoing basis, I would recommend focusing on the anatomy of the knee, shoulder, and ankle.  Injuries to these joints are the most commonly seen in sports so it is important to understand the anatomy of these joints.

Let us know your thoughts on learning the anatomy of the body by commenting in this blog or contact us at Sports Injury Advice where we understand that "Downtime Isn't An Option"