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Jeremy Johnson
was treated for
lower back and
knee injuries.
SPRAINS.
A sprain is a stretch or tear of a ligament—the band of connective
tissues that joins the end of one bone to another.
CAUSES:
A fall or blow that knocks a joint out of place and, in some cases,
tears the supporting ligaments. Ankles, knees and wrists are the parts of your
body you are most likely to sprain.
SIGNS:
Tenderness and pain, bruising, swelling, and trouble moving the affected
joint or limb.
STRAINS.
A strain is a twist, pull, or tear of a muscle or tendon—the tissue
that connects a muscle to a bone.
CAUSES:
Noncontact injuries, such as overstretching. Areas of your body you
are most likely to strain include your back and hamstring—a major muscle in the
back of your thigh.
SIGNS:
Pain, muscle spasms and loss of strength.
KNEE INJURIES.
The knee is the most frequently injured joint in the body. Serious
knee injuries include tears of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) or medial collateral liga-
ment (MCL) or of the cartilage.
CAUSES:
A blow or twist to the knee, an improper landing after a jump, and running too
hard or too much or without a proper warm-up.
SIGNS:
A popping noise, severe pain, inability to move the knee and swelling.
ACHILLES TENDON INJURIES.
The Achilles tendon, which connects the calf muscle
to the back of the heel, is the largest tendon in the body. It is also the most frequently ruptured
tendon.
CAUSES:
Tendonitis, which is caused by aging or overuse. When the Achilles tendon is
weakened, it can rupture. Middle-aged athletes who do not exercise regularly or take the time to
stretch properly before an activity are at risk for having an Achilles tendon injury.
SIGNS:
Swelling, pain after exercise that gradually becomes worse, morning tenderness above the
point where the tendon meets the heel bone and stiffness that gets better with use.
FRACTURES.
A fracture is a broken bone.
CAUSES:
Either a quick, one-time injury to the bone (an acute fracture) or repeated stress to the bone over
time (a stress fracture).
Acute fractures can be simple (a clean break with little damage to surrounding tissue) or compound (a
break in which the bone pierces the skin). Most acute fractures require emergency medical attention.
SIGNS:
Pain that worsens with weight-bearing activity, tenderness and swelling.
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COMMON
MISHAPS
According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the National
Institutes of Health, frequent sports injuries include: