Working out is an amazing way of taking care of your health; it keeps you physically fit, and also helps you in maintaining your emotional and mental balance. There are many different ways for you to choose your exercises, and in most cases it is dependent on your comfort level and also the level of physical fitness requirements that you intend to achieve. However, no matter which exercise you choose to pick, it is really important to take special precautions to prevent workout injuries.

Irrespective of whether it is minor or major, every injury is painful and could set any person back. While the reasons behind the workout injury may differ, what is important is that each injury must be given treatment and timely care to prevent the condition from getting worse. For someone who is passionate about health and fitness, an injury setback can be a pretty frustrating deal. But, with the right treatment, the injury can heal quickly, allowing the person to get back to their workout routine as soon as possible.

Below are 7 commonly reported workout injuries that a person can encounter while working out.

Runner’s Knee

This is one of the most commonly reported injuries for runners. Irritation of the cartilage below the kneecap results in 40% of running injuries. Runner’s knee occurs when the kneecap is not in alignment. Over a stretch of time the cartilage below the kneecap wears down, which results in pain when climbing down or up the stairs, sitting or squatting with the knees bent for a long time. The pain experienced below the kneecap is referred to as patellofemoral knee syndrome, and the pain could get worse with an increase in the intensity of the pain.

Pulled Hamstring

This is again quite a commonly reported injury among athletes and runners.The hamstring is a collection of four muscles that runs along the back of the thigh allowing the leg to bend at the knee. When a few of those muscles get overloaded it results in a hamstring strain, and the muscles may also likely tear. If the strain is not severe, the pain may be just bearable. But in a few cases this pain can be unbearable, making it almost impossible to even stand. Individuals can also feel a popping or snapping while exercising. They may experience pain in the back of the thigh and lower buttock while walking, bending over, or straightening the leg.

Lower Back Pain

Long hours in a riding position that's too aggressive, prolonged and repeated are the major reasons of lower back pain from cycling.The flexed position during cycling helps in maintaining a good aerodynamic performance, allowing to generate the force to pedal, this may cause the cyclists to suffer from lower back pain. Excessive flexing in the lumbar region of the spine could result in herniated lumbar discs, sciatica and nerve entrapment. The spinal column gets into the pelvic bone, which means that having weak muscles may prevent cyclists from generating the power required from the core for aggressive riding positions. Therefore, the supporting muscles are compelled to compensate for the weakness resulting in lower back pain.

Cubital Tunnel Syndrome

This is also called ulnar neuropathy, and is the result of excessive pressure on the ulnar nerve. This syndrome is generally found in baseball pitchers due to the twisting motion needed to throw a slider that could damage the delicate ligaments in the elbow. Repeatedly bending the elbow for sustained periods or leaning on your elbow on hard surfaces gives rise to this symptom. In a few cases the ulnar nerve snaps back and forth when the elbow is moved, irritating the nerve. The symptoms of cubital tunnel syndrome involve numbness and pain in the elbow, tingling in the little and ring fingers, decreased overall hand grip and muscle wasting in the hand.

Tennis/ Golf Elbow

Tennis elbow refers to the inflammation of the tendons on the outer bony surface of the muscles of the forearm and the elbow. The pain is felt due to the muscles and tendons, becoming inflamed from overuse. During the game of tennis, a one-handed backhand with incorrect form, a late forehand swing that could bend the wrist, or repeatedly turning the wrist for more spin on the serve could lead to tennis elbow symptoms. Golfers, also usually suffer from tennis elbow as pulling the club through the swing may lead to irritation in the elbow. Medial epicondylitis, which leads to pain on the inside of the elbow, is commonly reported among tennis players, golfers, and baseball pitchers, and weight lifters.

Neck strain

Choreography and dancing incorporates a lot of head movements that causes a strain on the dancers’ neck muscles. The cervical spine gives support to the head, allowing for a range of motion and mobility, but it also makes this area of the spine vulnerable to injury. If dancers fail to use the full spine properly while arching the neck or head, it can strain the neck muscles. A neck strain is generally characterised by numbness, dull aching pain, tingling, difficulty swallowing and tenderness. Individuals could sometimes also feel a sharp pain, swelling in the lymph nodes, and dizziness.

Ankle Sprain

Although it is a commonly seen injury, by no means is it a minor injury. Rapid shifting movement with the foot planted, like in soccer, getting tackled in football or even in dancing, could result in a sprain. In a sprain, the ankle starts to roll outward, while the foot begins to turn inward, causing ligaments of the ankle to stretch and eventually tear. In a few cases the ankle rolls inward with the foot rolling outward, damaging the ligaments inside the ankle. Depending on how many ligaments have gotten injured and how badly you may experience various symptoms. The common symptoms are swelling, tenderness and pain. In case of very serious sprains, a tear is experienced along with a snap or pop.

Address these Sports Injury Immediately

Ignoring an injury is not a smart move. An untreated injury only will get worse with time, and will result in need for surgery or other intense procedures. But, if the injury can be treated right away, it will heal pretty quickly, allowing the person to get back to their daily activities or enjoy their workouts, and follow all necessary precautions to avoid a recurrence of the injury in the future.

So, the next time you feel any pain or aches during the course of your workout, address it immediately by contacting our specialist orthopaedic surgeon at 1 Health Medical Centre. The orthopedic specialist will help you in eliminating the issue by charting out the right treatment plan, so that you can continue working your way to having a healthy body.