You do not have to be a professional to get what is commonly known as sport injuries. Improper jogging in the parks, a weekend game of gully cricket or a fun football game during a picnic could give you a sports injury. Modern orthopedic surgery available today can treat all serious sport injuries. But awareness about them is vital. The most common injuries occur on the knee. The knee holds both the leg bones together by 4 ligaments like ropes. When twisted or broken, nearly 95 per cent of the cases fail to return to normal. If left untreated, it could cause osteoarthritis and could leave even an aggressive footballer struggling to walk. Only Surgical procedures can restore them.
Tendinitis is an altogether different condition resulting from chronic repetitive sports without the proper warm up and warm downs. Tennis elbow is a common name for it. Surprisingly, sedentary housewives get it too, because cooking is similarly exhaustive and repetitive as professional sports! The treatment for it lies in strength training combined with ample rest for several months. Javagal Srinath suffered a similar condition.
Playing football improperly by using the toes to kick can result in ingrown and damaged toenails that could only be corrected by surgery. More than wearing the right sports gear as shoes, proper running style and right warm up and warm down are all vital. Always land on toes while running, instead of thumping your heels. Leather shoes are a no no.
If you have suffered a sport injury on ground, apply ice on it and relax. Immobilise the suspected bone and joints, and visit a doctor within 24 hours.
The writer is a senior consultant of orthopedic and orthoscopic surgery at Sooriya hospitals,Chennai
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