10 Common Types of Sports Injuries

These are the most common types of sports injuries, including muscle pull, shin splints, lower back pain, shoulder impingement, and runner’s knee.

Sports injuries occur during sports or exercise due to:

• Overtraining
• Lack of fitness
• Poor form or technique

Proper warm-up reduces the risk of sports injuries.

Discover the most common types of sports injuries below, along with their causes, symptoms, and treatment.

Common Types of Sports Injuries

Muscle pull

• Muscle pulls are common and can happen in any sport. When a muscle stretches too far or exceeds its limits, small tears occur, resulting in a strain.

• Causes: Athletes can pull a muscle due to:

• Inadequate warm-up
• Muscle exhaustion
• Lack of flexibility
• Muscle weakness

Shin splints

• Shin splints refer to shin pain, typically on the inside of the shin, called medial tibial stress syndrome.

• Causes: Shin splints are caused by inflammation of the muscles and their attachments to the shin bone (tibia). They can occur due to:

• Increased workout intensity
• Worn-out shoes or hard terrains
• Biomechanical issues

Lower back pain

• Lower back pain is common in runners, bikers, golfers, tennis players, and baseball players. It can be caused by bulging discs, back spasms, stress fractures, and sciatica.

• Causes: Lower back pain can be caused by:

• Improper training techniques
• Weakness, especially in core muscles
• Poor preparation
• Leg length differences
• Poor lower limb biomechanics
• Inadequate footwear

Shoulder impingement

• Shoulder impingement can occur in activities that involve overhead movement, such as tennis, swimming, weightlifting, baseball, and volleyball.

• Causes: Shoulder impingement is caused by:

• Overuse
• Strained rotator cuff
• Poor shoulder and scapular muscle control

Runner’s knee

• Knee injuries account for the majority of sports injuries. They can affect any athlete, including runners, cyclists, soccer players, and volleyball players.

• Causes: Runner’s knee can be caused by:

• Weak quadriceps
• Tightness in related muscles
• Imbalances around the knee
• Poor pelvic control
• Incorrect or worn shoes
• Overtraining

Tennis elbow

• Causes: Tennis elbow occurs due to overuse of the forearm in activities like tennis, golf, and badminton. The muscles responsible for pulling the wrist back can become irritated and damaged.
• Symptoms:

• Pain when touching the outside of the elbow
• Pain when moving the wrist or fingers
• Pain while turning a doorknob or carrying heavy objects

Achilles tendinitis

• Achilles tendinitis is common among runners and athletes who frequently jump. It causes swelling and inflammation of the Achilles tendon, which connects the calf muscle to the heel bone.
• Causes: Achilles tendinitis can be caused by:

• Poor foot biomechanics
• Incorrect footwear

Ankle sprain

• Causes: Ankle sprains occur when the foot twists inward unintentionally, stretching and tearing the ligaments on the outside of the ankle. They are common in sports that involve fast movements like jumping and turning.
• Symptoms:

• Immediate pain
• Swelling around the outside of the ankle
• Tenderness and instability

Concussion

• Causes: Concussions occur when the brain is damaged due to a head injury, often in sports involving abrupt contacts, such as soccer, boxing, hockey, and football.
• Symptoms:

• Disorientation
• Vision disturbances
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Amnesia
• Loss of balance
• Difficulty concentrating
• Nausea

Groin strain

• Excessive sprinting or jumping in sports like soccer, hockey, basketball, volleyball, and racket sports can strain the muscles in the upper thigh that hold the legs together.
• Causes: Groin strains can be caused by:

• Overuse
• Sudden slips
• Overstretching the muscles