Any injury that is sustained during an athletic activity can be considered a sports injury. Regardless of your sport, the risk for injury exists. The type and intensity of injury you can sustain varies on the sport. While distance runners need to watch out for knee problems, contact football players need to keep a keen eye out for the signs of a concussion. A few common injuries associated with sports include:

• Strains. Muscle and tendon tears or twists are a common problem in the sports world. Hip flexor strains, for example, happen often in sports that require a lot of running and cutting. Strains to your ACL can prove to be very worrisome, as the ligaments in your knee are vital for stabilization. Enough damage can cause your ACL to tear, requiring surgery and months of intensive rehabilitation to make an optimal recovery.

• Sprains. In close proximity to strains, sprains consist of damages that are done when one or more ligaments are torn or stretched. The only difference here is that strains affect your muscles and tendons. The treatment time for both injuries varies widely based on the affected area and the individual. It’s important to properly recover, as getting back into your sport prematurely can cause an even more intensive re-injury!

• Fractures. Also known as broken bones, these injuries actually only account for five percent of the total sports injuries overall. When a bone break is suspected, it’s very important to seek medical imaging for a proper diagnosis. Growing children will require additional attention, as damages to the epiphysis and apophysis growth plates can cause complications.

The realm of sports injuries is as expansive as it is worrisome. Next time, we’ll discuss more sports injuries, as well as the different times medical imaging used for each. As Pittsburgh’s quality imaging services provider, we are dedicated to supplying the most affordable and accurate imaging assistance to Pennsylvania residents. North Pittsburgh Imaging Specialists is comprised of your go-to team of ABR board-certified radiologists, delivering quality results each and every time. Contact us today to learn more or to receive a quote for your diagnostic imaging.