Playing sports is a great way to get your physical needs met in a fun and engaging way. Unfortunately, sports are also a common cause of injury. Sports can result in injuries for a variety of reasons and range from minor to severe. Anyone who plays sports or is nearby during practices and games should know the basics about sports-related injuries and first-aid. Let’s get into it so you’ll know what to do in the event of a sports-related injury!

AFC Urgent Care North Bergen provides injury treatment for all urgent needs that are not life-threatening. Save time and money by visiting our center for any cuts, fractures, or breaks that happen.

Common Sports Injuries

Sports injuries can occur from contact with another player, overuse, misuse, and improper technique or stretching before you start playing. The most common sports injuries include:

• Strains and sprains – a strained or sprained muscle will typically be very sore and swollen. Bruising and stiffness may be present. This can happen anywhere in the body, but ankle and hamstring muscles are the most commonly strained or sprained.
• Fractures – a fractured bone can be a minor hairline fracture or a compound fracture where the bone is actually visible. Stress fractures occur from repeated jumping or running on hard surfaces, so they’re extremely common for athletes.
• Concussion – a blow to the head that results in dizziness, confusion, headache, and sometimes a loss of consciousness, is something known as a concussion.
• Cuts – cuts in relation to sports most commonly occur when someone hits a hard surface too hard and damages the surface of the skin.
• Dehydration – sports cause you to sweat and use a lot of the water in your body. Failure to replenish that water will lead to dehydration, heat exhaustion, and even a heat stroke.

First Aid Basics

First aid should always begin with assessing the situation and calling 911 if anyone’s life is at risk. If the injury is not severe, first aid is usually enough to get by until the injured person can see a medical professional.

For sprains, strains, and other joint injuries, you should use the RICE method. That stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. Don’t use the injured area, apply ice, wrap a compression bandage around it, and elevate the affected area to minimize swelling. A similar method can be used for fractures, although you should focus more on stabilizing the area with a wrap or sling than compressing the swelling.

Cuts should be cleaned with soap and water right away. Apply pressure until bleeding slows. Then, disinfect the area and apply a bandage. If a cut is more than 2 inches deep or long, stitches may be required.

If someone is showing signs of dehydration, supply them with plenty of fluids and get them out of the sun to cool down and minimize sweating. Someone who may have suffered a concussion should be kept awake and talking until they can be evaluated by a medical professional.

When it comes to sports injuries, it’s always best to get things checked out by a professional before you return to the field or court. What you think is just a sprain could actually be a fracture that needs some serious treatment. Administer the first aid you know and get AFC North Bergen ASAP!