Most Common Sports Injuries

Ankle sprain is the most common basketball injury. It occurs when a player lands on another player’s foot or the ankle rolls too far outward. In such case the ligaments connecting bones and supporting the ankle are either torn or stretched.
An injury to the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) can occur during an abrupt change in direction or landing from a jump. ACL tear is most commonly a season ending injury and requires corrective surgery and long recovery period.
Finger injury causing bruising, swelling, loss of function, pain, etc. is also quite common among basketball players. In case of severe injuries, reconstructive surgery is recommended otherwise it might lead to deformity and permanent loss of function.

Knee ligament tear. PCL injuries are common among football players. They are usually caused by hyper-extending the knee. ACL injuries, including partial or complete tears, can occur when an athlete changes direction rapidly, twists without moving the feet, slows down abruptly, or misses a landing from a jump.
Meniscus tear occurs if an athlete quickly twists or rotates the upper leg while the foot is firmly planted. The symptoms of the torn meniscus are mild to severe pain, audible click or pop, lock of the knee.
Achilles tendon rupture is a break in the Achilles tendon. The break itself may cause a loud pop and feel like the ligament has been kicked or shot. Symptoms of a ruptured tendon include severe pain and swelling, difficulty walking and the inability to stand on the toes of the injured foot.

The most frequent injuries in tennis are the rotator cuff injuries which include tendonitis and torn muscle. It occurs in sports requiring the arm to be moved over the head repeatedly. The symptoms include pain while moving and difficulty lifting an arm.
Wrist tendonitis is usually caused by biomechanical factors such as hand injury, poor sports equipment, or overuse of the wrist. Symptoms include swelling and painful bending.
Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) is usually caused by overusing the muscles attached to the elbow and used to straighten the wrist. The main symptom is pain which might be felt while bending, twisting, lifting, and gripping small objects.

Achilles tendonitis accounts for about 11% of jogging injuries. It might be provoked by increased activity level, short recovery time between activities, or poor choice of footwear. The main symptom is ankle pain, especially noticeable while walking upstairs.
Ankle sprain most commonly occurs when an athlete slips of misplaces the foot making the foot face inwards. The symptoms include pain, swelling and bruising.
Runner’s knee (patellofemoral pain) occurs due to overuse, trauma, or weak thigh muscles. The main symptom is pain while bending the knee as well as popping and grinding sensation.

The most common shoulder injuries among rugby players are torn rotator cuff, acromioclavicular damage, shoulder joint dislocation.
Second in line are the knee injuries. The most common one is medial collateral ligament damage caused by force applied on the knee joint from the side.
Ankle sprain as in other sports occurs when an athlete misplaces the foot when landing from a jump.

Knee injuries such as sprained medial or capsular ligaments are extremely common among hockey players.
Damaged acromioclavicular joint and other types of shoulder dislocations are the second most common injury among hockey players. This injury is caused by direct contact to the other player, ice or boards.
Neck and spine injuries are among the most common and without a doubt most dangerous injuries. It might be also accompanied by nerve irritation.

Torn rotator cuff is the injury number one among volleyball players. During volleyball game the arm is often placed in extreme positions and rotations in order to hit a ball. It increases the risk of muscle damage.
Wrist sprain and other hand injuries occur while blocking and hitting the ball.
Ankle sprain usually occurs when a player lands from a jump. It is especially common in beach volleyball.