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Basics

• Summary
• Start Here
• Prevention and Risk Factors

Learn More

• Related Issues
• Specifics

See, Play and Learn

• Videos and Tutorials

Research

• Statistics and Research
• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

Resources

• Find an Expert

For You

• Children
• Teenagers
• Men
• Patient Handouts

Summary

Exercising is good for you, but sometimes you can injure yourself when you play sports or exercise. Accidents, poor training practices, or improper gear can cause them. Some people get hurt because they are not in shape. Not warming up or stretching enough can also lead to injuries.

The most common sports injuries are:

• Sprains and strains
• Knee injuries
• Swollen muscles
• Achilles tendon injuries
• Pain along the shin bone
• Rotator cuff injuries
• Fractures (broken bones)
• Dislocations

If you get hurt, stop playing. Continuing to play or exercise can cause more harm. Treatment often begins with the RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation) method to relieve pain, reduce swelling, and speed healing. Other possible treatments include pain relievers, keeping the injured area from moving, rehabilitation, and sometimes surgery.

NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Start Here

• Common Sports Injuries (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
• Sports Injuries (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) Also in Spanish

Prevention and Risk Factors

• Golf Injury Prevention (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
• Sports Safety: MedlinePlus Health Topic (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish

Related Issues

• Exercise-Induced Urticaria (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
• Knee Bracing: What Works? (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
• Venous Thromboembolism and Marathon Athletes (American Heart Association) - PDF

Specifics

• Burners (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
• Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Concussion (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
• Concussion in Sports (American College of Sports Medicine) - PDF
• Foot Health Facts for Athletes (American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons)
• Golfer's Elbow (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
• Hamstring Injury (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
• Shin Splints (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Shoulder Impingement/Rotator Cuff Tendinitis (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
• Shoulder Instability (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
• Sports Hernia (Athletic Pubalgia) (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
• Sprains (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Stress Fractures (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Tennis Elbow (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
• Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis) (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)

Videos and Tutorials

• Concussion (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Statistics and Research

• Biomarkers Identified in Collegiate Athletes That Could Help Predict Time Needed to Recover From Concussion (National Institute of Nursing Research)

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Athletic Injuries (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Consensus on maturity-related injury risks and prevention in youth soccer: A...
• Article: Exploring prevalent injuries among tennis players and optimal rehabilitation approaches: A...
• Article: Impact of moderate aerobic exercise on small-world topology and characteristics of...
• Sports Injuries -- see more articles

Find an Expert

• National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Also in Spanish

Children

• Ear Injuries (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Sever's Disease (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Teenagers

• Ankle Sprains (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Dealing with Sports Injuries (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Jumper's Knee (Patellar Tendonitis) (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Quadriceps Contusion (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Runner's Knee (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Sports and Concussions (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Men

• Testicular Injuries (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

• Achilles tendon repair (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Back pain and sports (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• How to avoid exercise injuries (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Medial epicondylitis - golfer's elbow (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Returning to sports after a back injury (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish