Sports Related Musculoskeletal Injuries

Subacromial impingement syndrome is a shoulder joint injury that cricket players are most susceptible to which is caused by repetitive overhead movement of the arm. This injury causes mechanical inflammation in the subacromial space – the space above the shoulder’s ball and socket joint and the top most shoulder bone. Muscular strength imbalances, poor scapula, and rotator cuff tears caused by falling on an outstretched arm, pulling on the shoulder, or repetitive lifting of heavy loads are the main causes of subacromial impingement.

A shoulder joint capsule and labrum injury caused due to more than one episode of shoulder dislocations is known as a Bankart Tear. In case of a Bankart tear the supportive labrum is torn from its attachment rendering the shoulder unstable. This type of tear is typically seen in contact sports like kabaddi where there is lot of holding and pushing involved.

Anterior and posterior cruciate ligament Injury is a common injury seen in football, cricket, volley ball, tennis, badminton and kabbadi players. Knee injury in contact sports; jumping, deceleration, and pivoting in non-contact sports cause cruciate ligament injuries. This condition is characterized by falling to the ground on injury, acute swelling, and a destabilized knee where bearing weight becomes difficult.

A forceful medial blow to a partially flexed knee can damage the medial collateral ligament – the ligament stretching along the inner edge of the knee causing a collateral ligament injury. Restricted range-of-motion and pain are symptoms of collateral ligament injury.

Meniscus injuries are caused by an acute or repeated injury to the meniscus – the shock absorber of the knee. Symptoms of Meniscus related injuries are difficulty in squatting and pain while walking.

Commonly referred to as “runner’s knee” the Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome characterizes pain around the front of the knee and around the patella. While athletes are commonly diagnosed with this syndrome, it also affects non-athletes. This condition typically causes discomfort and stiffness, leading to difficulty in climbing stairs, kneeling, and conducting other daily activities.

A sprain is an injury caused to the ankle when one lands on an uneven surface. Swelling, localized pain, difficulty bearing weight, and limping are signs of inversion ankle sprain.

An eversion ankle sprain is when the ankle turns outward or rotates externally. An eversion ankle sprain is accompanied by excruciating pain that worsens with weight bearing.