Sports-Related Injuries

Stay active and safe with sports medicine care from Banner Health.

Any healthy lifestyle should include regular physical activity. But playing sports or exercising can sometimes lead to injuries. Accidents, poor technique, lack of stretching and using the wrong gear can all increase your risk. 

People who may be more likely to get injured include: 

• People who have been inactive for a long time 
• People who skip stretching or warming up 
• People who play contact or high-risk sports like snowboarding or mountain biking 
• People who overtrain without allowing time to rest 

The sports medicine team at Banner Health supports athletes of all levels - from beginners to professionals. We offer personalized care using the latest techniques to help you recover and return to the activities you love. 

What are the most common types of sports injuries? 

Sports injuries can vary in type and severity. They may cause pain, swelling, limited movement or long-term complications. Common injuries include: 

• Ligament injuries (sprains): A stretch or tear in the ligaments that connect bones. Common examples include ACL tears, UCL (Tommy John) injuries, and ankle sprains. Learn more about ligament injuries. 
• Muscle or tendon strains: A pulled or torn muscle or tendon, often caused by overstretching. Examples include pulled hamstrings or mild ankle strains. 
• Soft tissue injuries: Damage to muscles, ligaments or tendons due to impact or overuse. Learn more about soft tissue injuries.
• Knee injuries: Can include sprains, strains, bursitis, dislocations, meniscus tears, ligament tears, fractures or overuse injuries. 
• Sore or swollen muscles: Often caused by strain, impact or new exercise routines. 
• Achilles tendon rupture or tear: A serious injury when the tendon at the back of your lower leg stretches or tears. 
• Dislocations: A bone slips out of its joint, causing pain, swelling and loss of motion. 
• Fractures: A crack or break in a bone, often due to forceful impact or overuse. 
• Rotator cuff injuries: Damage to the muscles and tendons that stabilize your shoulder joint. 
• Brachial plexus injuries: Damage to the nerves that control your shoulder, arm and hand. These can cause weakness, numbness or trouble moving the arm. Learn more about brachial plexus injuries. 

How are sports injuries treated?

Many mild sports injuries can be treated at home using the R.I.C.E. method: 

• Rest the injured area 
• Ice to reduce swelling 
• Compression with a bandage or wrap 
• Elevation above heart level 

Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen may also help with pain and swelling. 

Supportive devices like splints, braces or slings can reduce strain and protect the injured area as it heals. 

Seek immediate care if you have: 

• Severe pain or swelling 
• A visible deformity 
• Crunching or popping sounds from the joint 
• Weakness or inability to move the area 
• Dizziness, trouble breathing or fainting 

Prompt care from a sports medicine specialist can help prevent long-term damage and speed up recovery.

How can you prevent sports injuries?

Injury prevention starts with preparation. These steps can help protect your body: 

• Stretch before and after exercise 
• Use proper technique 
• Wear the right gear, including helmets, pads and protective clothing 
• Don’t overtrain—rest days are important 
• Warm up your muscles before intense activity 
• Build a strength and conditioning program to support your sport 

If you participate in sports with repetitive motion, like running or tennis, regular training and rest can help reduce your injury risk. 

Learn more about preventing sports injuries. 

Get expert care for sports injuries

If you're dealing with a sports-related injury or want help preventing one, the sports medicine specialists at Banner Health are here for you. 

Schedule an appointment