Sports Injuries

A sports injury is physical damage to muscles, joints, bones, ligaments or tendons that occurs during exercise, training or competition.

At Banner Health, our sports medicine specialists treat athletes of all levels, from beginners to professionals. We use advanced techniques, orthopedic expertise and personalized recovery plans to help you heal, prevent future injuries and return to the activities you love.

Who is more likely to get injured?

Certain factors can increase your risk for sports injuries, including:

• Returning to activity after a long break
• Skipping warm-ups or stretching
• Playing contact or high-risk sports (e.g., football, snowboarding, mountain biking)
• Overtraining without enough rest
• Using improper technique or gear

We care for a wide range of sports-related injuries - from mild strains to complex joint repairs.

Types of sports injuries:

• Ligament injuries (sprains): stretches or tears in ligaments, such as ACL tears, UCL (Tommy John) injuries and ankle sprains 
• Muscle or tendon strains: pulled or torn muscles or tendons, such as hamstring strains or mild ankle strains
• Soft tissue injuries: damage to muscles, ligaments or tendons from impact or overuse 
• Dislocations: bones slipping out of a joint, such as shoulder dislocations 
• Fractures: standard fractures, stress fractures and avulsion fractures 
• Overuse injuries: tendonitis, bursitis and patellofemoral pain syndrome 
• Nerve injuries: “burners” or “stingers” and brachial plexus injuries 
• Concussions   

Specific areas we treat:

• Knee injuries: Kneecap dislocation, ligament problems, meniscus tears, bursitis, cartilage damage 
• Ankle injuries: Sprains, ligament reconstructions, fractures
• Foot injuries: Stress fractures and avulsion fractures
• Shoulder injuries: Rotator cuff tendonitis or tears, impingement syndrome 
• Elbow and wrist injuries: From overuse, falls or sports impact
• Hip and spine injuries: Including muscle strains and overuse injuries
• Arthritis: Related to past injuries or repetitive use

Treatment depends on your specific injury and its severity.

Mild sports injuries can often be managed at home with the R.I.C.E. method:

• Rest the injured area
• Ice to reduce swelling
• Compression with a bandage or wrap
• Elevation above heart level 

Over-the-counter NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen) can reduce pain and inflammation. Supportive devices like braces, splints or slings may also protect the injured area during recovery.

Seek immediate care if you experience:

• Severe pain or swelling
• A visible deformity
• Crunching or popping sounds from a joint
• Weakness or inability to move the area
• Dizziness, trouble breathing or fainting

Prompt evaluation from a sports medicine specialist can help prevent long-term damage and speed healing.

You can reduce your risk of sports injuries by:

• Stretching before and after exercise
• Warming up your muscles before intense activity
• Using proper form and technique
• Wearing the right gear (helmets, pads, protective clothing)
• Taking rest days to avoid overtraining
• Following a sport-specific strength and conditioning program

If your sport involves repetitive movements, like tennis, baseball or running, alternating activities and scheduling regular rest can help prevent overuse injuries. Learn more about sports medicine injury prevention. 

Don’t let pain or injury keep you on the sidelines. Banner Health’s sports medicine team provides expert diagnosis, advanced treatment and personalized rehabilitation plans so you can recover safely and confidently.

Book an appointment with a Banner Health sports medicine specialist.