It can happen to anyone, especially if you’re active.
You’ve been working enthusiastically, crushing your fitness goals, when suddenly… whoa! Ouch! It’s only a minor ache and pain. Or is it?
Here’s a guide to recognizing four common injuries that you shouldn’t ignore.
1: ROTATOR CUFF
The rotator cuff is a group of muscles that are responsible for stabilizing your shoulder and aid in movement. They are active with movement of your shoulder and the most common injuries to the rotator cuff include strains, tendinitis, and bursitis.
Signs of injury
- Avoiding certain activities because they cause pain
- Difficulty achieving a full range of motion of the shoulder
- Pain in the shoulder, especially at night
- Difficulty sleeping on the affected shoulder
- Progressive weakness of the shoulder
- Trouble reaching behind your back
What to do
If you’ve been experiencing any of these symptoms longer than a week, or lose function of your arm, see your medical provider or a PRO Medical Physical Therapist.
2: GOLFER’S ELBOW (medial epicondylitis)
Tendonitis of the inside part of the elbow, where the tendons of the forearm flexors connect to the bone, can develop with any activity that involves the wrist or arm. It commonly occurs with tennis, baseball, or any activity where the muscle/tendon is held in a tensed position for too long such as tightening a screw with your arm extended, chopping wood, shoveling snow, gardening, and even using the mouse or laptop touchpad for prolonged periods.
Signs of injury
- Pain on the inside part of the elbow
- Elbow stiffness
- Weakness of the hand or wrist
- Tingling sensation or numbness in the fingers, especially the ring and little finger
- Pain with everyday activities such as opening a door, picking up items, or giving a handshake
What to do
If you’ve been experiencing any of these symptoms longer than a week, see a PRO Medical Physical Therapist.
3: RUNNER’S KNEE(patellofemoral pain syndrome)
This is a common term used to describe pain around the kneecap or patella. It can be caused by several different issues and can develop with any activity that causes repetitive stress to the knee such as, hiking, walking, skiing, soccer, jumping, and cycling.
Signs of Injury
- A dull ache or pain around or behind the kneecap (patella).
- Pain on the outer part of the kneecap, which could indicate iliotibial band (IT band) syndrome.
- Pain when walking, ascending or descending stairs, squatting, kneeling, running, sitting down or standing up, and staying in a prolonged position with your knee bent.
What to do
If you’ve been experiencing any of these symptoms longer than a week, see a PRO Medical Physical Therapist.
4: ANKLE SPRAIN
An ankle sprain is an injury to the ligaments that connect the bones of the foot to the leg. The injury occurs when you twist or turn your ankle in an awkward way, causing a stretch or tear to the tissue. Typically, the foot turns inward causing injury to the outer ligaments.
Signs of Injury
- Swelling, pain, or bruising
- Tenderness, stiffness, discoloration, or difficulty putting weight on the ankle
What to do
If you’re unable to bear weight or walk on your foot/ankle, it’s important to immediately see a medical doctor to help determine the extent of injury, as it may be more severe than a sprain. In other cases, if the symptoms persist for longer than a week, see a PRO Medical Physical Therapist to help set up a proper course of treatment so that you can return back to full function.
Don’t get sidelined by an injury. If you experience pain, don’t ignore it. The longer an injury goes untreated, the more it could turn into a chronic condition. Visit a PRO Medical Physical Therapist for an evaluation so that you’re on your way to full recovery as soon as possible.
Written by PRO Club
