For athletes, their fiercest opponents aren’t the opponents they face on the field, but, instead, it is their battles  with injury. Some injuries, although small, can cause athletes to waver in training, be sidelined for a game, and, if not taken care of, can lead to bigger injuries later on. Therefore, understanding common sports injuries, their causes, prevention strategies, and treatments is essential for any athlete’s longevity and performance. 

While playing contact sports, players can experience injuries during practice and games because of heavy contact. One of the most common injuries players face is a torn labrum, which occurs in the shoulder when it is displaced from a sudden blow. A labrum is a ring of cartilage that stabilizes the shoulder socket. A torn labrum can take months to heal, causing athletes to miss an entire season, making it even more important to prevent these injuries. When asked about how to prevent this injury, Coach Perry recommended strengthening  shoulder muscles by bench-pressing, doing band exercises, and weight training. Although it’s  a painful injury with a long recovery, it can be easily prevented with simple workouts. A prevented labrum tear is more than just a healthy shoulder; it’s a whole season on the field, not in the trainer. 

Another injury athletes can experience  is a hamstring strain, which can be caused by tearing muscles in the back of one’s thighs during explosive actions such as sprinting, changing direction, jumping, and kicking. Due to its common nature, any athlete can experience this injury, but it can be easily prevented. Athletic trainer Shane Dale recommends dynamic stretches during every warm-up, weighted hamstring curl, RDL (Romanian Deadlift), or body weight RDL. If athletes try their best to prevent a hamstring strain but still find themselves experiencing it, they should immediately use the RICE method, which stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Athletes should immediately stop putting weight on their hamstrings to prevent further damage. Then they should apply ice packs on their hamstrings for 20 minutes several times a day to reduce swelling and pain. Following the icing of the injury, athletes should then wrap an elastic band around the hamstring and elevate it to reduce swelling. A hamstring strain is very common and can happen to anyone and should be prevented and treated accordingly.

One more injury that is extremely common and can easily be prevented is an ankle sprain. This injury is present in all sports and is caused by twisting or rolling the ankle, jumping and landing awkwardly, overuse from repetitive motions, and uneven surfaces or inappropriate footwear. To prevent an ankle sprain, athletic trainer Shane Dale recommends a 3-way band exercise, toe walks, heel walks, split, and regular squats. All of these exercises can be done at home and in the weight roomIf an athlete is diagnosed with an ankle sprain, they should follow the RICE method and add protection to the ankle by using a brace or crutches to limit load bearing on the afflicted ankle. Overall, an ankle strain is an especially common injury because athletes use their feet constantly, whether it is in the gym, during practice, or during a game. An ankle sprain injury looms large over an  athlete, but with hydration, exercises and stretching, the probability of an ankle sprain is reduced , causing athletes to spend more time on the field rather than in the trainer. 

All of these injuries fall into the same category; they are very common and can happen to anyone, but can easily be prevented. These injuries can be very painful and serious to athletes, so they should make sure that they are constantly stretching, using the right equipment, and being safe during their games and practices. With the help of athletic trainers and coaches here at Good Counsel, the possibility of injury can be reduced, but still occur nonetheless, which is why athletes need to ensure they are getting the right treatment.