Understanding the Causes of Acute and Chronic Sports Injuries

Acute and chronic sports injuries. Individuals who participate in sports or physical activities have an increased risk of experiencing an injury. These types of damages range from minor to severe and could require medical attention. Acute sports injuries happen suddenly and are usually the result of trauma to the area. A specific, identifiable incident is what causes an acute injury. Chronic sports injuries, also known as repetitive/overuse injuries, happen with time and are not caused by a single incident.

Acute and Chronic Sports Injuries Identification

Acute injuries can be identified by their cause. This could be a falling down during a run, sharp pain that presents in the shoulder after a throw, or a sprained ankle. The ability to focus on one cause usually means it’s acute. Acute injuries are characterized by:

• Sudden pain in an area where there was none.
• Swelling
• Redness
• Tenderness
• Limited range of motion.
• The inability of the injured area to support its weight.
• A broken bone.
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting

Chronic injuries are different but are usually easy to identify. The pain begins gradually, usually over weeks or months. Repetitive activities like running, throwing, and swinging can exacerbate the pain. However, it is difficult to point to a specific issue that first caused the discomfort or pain. Chronic sports injuries are characterized by:

• Pain and tenderness in the area, especially during and immediately after activity.
• Minor swelling and limited range of motion.
• Dull pain when resting.

These two types of injuries have different causes – trauma for acute and wear-and-tear for chronic – but they can both result in similar issues. For example, shoulder rotator cuff injuries are common, especially those that repeatedly use their shoulder to swing, throw, swim, etc. The individual needs to undergo a rotator cuff injury test to diagnose the injury correctly, whether the damage is acute or chronic. Chronic injuries can cause acute injuries, and acute injuries can lead to chronic injuries if left untreated.

Examples of Acute and Chronic Sports Injuries

Chronic and acute injuries are common in every type of sport. There’s an opportunity for both types of injuries. The most common include:

Acute Injuries:

• Sprain and Strains
• Burners and Stingers
• A.C.L. Tears
• Rotator Cuff Tear
• Dislocated Shoulder
• Broken Bones or Fractures
• Concussion
• Whiplash

Chronic Injuries:

• Runner’s Knee
• Achilles Tendon Issues
• Shin Splints
• Swimmer’s Shoulder
• Lateral epicondylitis tennis elbow
• Stress Fractures

Other injuries from trauma, overuse, or both include:

• Nonspecific Back Pain
• Herniated Disc/s
• Spondylolysis

Treatment

Minor acute injuries can be treated with rest, ice, compression, and elevation, aka R.I.C.E. Overuse injuries, are different as the injury has been gradually increasing in its severity, possibly causing scar tissue and ganglion cysts to develop. To prevent the injury from worsening, it’s recommended to see a sports injury chiropractor or physical therapist. These professionals can help heal the body and educate the individual on self-care and prevention.

Chiropractic

The musculoskeletal system takes a beating. Chronic injuries usually affect the bones, joints, muscles, or a combination. Chiropractic helps keep the musculoskeletal system limber and in proper alignment. Adjustments include:

• Neck adjustments
• Arm and hand adjustments
• Shoulder adjustments
• Knee adjustments
• Hip adjustments
• Foot adjustments

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy for a chronic injury can help prevent future injuries. A physical therapist helps:

• Improve range of motion
• Reduces pain and swelling
• Increases strength

Whether an athlete or is just staying active and having some fun with sports, acute and chronic injuries can sneak up and worsen if they are not treated properly. Healing with the help of a professional can quicken recovery time and prevent future injuries.

Body Composition

Maintain Muscle Mass While Losing Fat

Individuals who want to lose weight should focus on losing excess fat tissue, not muscle mass. Studies have shown that diet and exercise are crucial to preserving Skeletal Muscle Mass while losing weight. Losing weight healthily includes:

• A healthy balance of cardio and resistance training to burn calories and build muscle.
• A caloric deficit diet to burn through extra fat stores.
• Get enough protein to support and maintain healthy muscle mass.

References

Cava, Edda et al. “Preserving Healthy Muscle during Weight Loss.” Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.) vol. 8,3 511-519. 15 May. 2017, doi:10.3945/an.116.014506

https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/sports-injuries

https://link.springer.com/article/10.2165/00007256-199418030-00004

https://journals.lww.com/acsm-csmr/FullText/2010/09000/An_Overview_of_Strength_Training_Injuries__Acute.14.aspx?casa_token=8sCDJWxhcOMAAAAA:CDEFNkTlCxFkl-77MtALBQAkttW0PqWwCj4masQzEcYOJNuwFKyZgHZ9npQoHhWgMKOPSbnkLyfcQACYGpuu7gg

Wörtler, K, and C Schäffeler. “Akute Sportverletzungen und chronische Überlastungsschäden an Vor- und Mittelfuß” [Acute sports injuries and chronic overuse stress damage to the forefoot and midfoot]. Der Radiologe vol. 55,5 (2015): 417-32. doi:10.1007/s00117-015-2855-3

Yang, Jingzhen et al. “Epidemiology of overuse and acute injuries among competitive collegiate athletes.” Journal of athletic training vol. 47,2 (2012): 198-204. doi:10.4085/1062-6050-47.2.198