It's no secret that athletes, at any level of competition, have a high risk of sports injuries, whether from an accident or from repetitive strain and wear and tear over time. Either way, the goal is to prevent it from disrupting daily life, like being able to go to work.
So for this reason, we have prepared this article where we share some tips to keep your muscles, joints and bones well prepared. We also teach you what you should do to recover quickly and without consequences if you have been injured. Take note!
WHAT IS A SPORTS INJURY?
If we look for the meaning of injury in the dictionary, we can see a different definition depending on the type of ailment, but when we talk about sports injury it refers exclusively to the possible damage derived from performing some type of exercise or physical activity.
For example, a cyclist runs the risk of falling and getting injured; a boxer can break his nose; a footballer suffers a torn meniscus; and hundreds of more examples.
FREQUENT SPORTS INJURIES: TYPES AND EXAMPLES
Exercising, whether on a professional, amateur or occasional level, is a healthy habit and recommended by doctors and specialists in Sports Sciences and Physical Education. Although, as we well know, there is the possibility of suffering some type of injury as “hazards of the job.”
Among some of the examples of these possible sports injuries, the most common that usually occur in people who do some physical activity are:
knee injury
Strains
Pain in the tibia bone
Shoulder rotator cuff injuries
Trauma to the Achilles tendon
muscle inflammation
Dislocations
Fractures (broken bones)
Not every injury happens the same way sometimes it's sudden and unexpected, while other times it develops gradually. This is why sports injuries are generally classified into two types
Acute Injury
These occur suddenly, the person who suffers from it is usually doing sports or physical exercise at that same moment. Some of the most common acute injuries are hand fractures, back strains, and ankle sprains.
Some of the most common symptoms of an acute injury are:
swelling
Sudden severe pain
Severe pain in the elbow, wrist, arm, finger or hand
Not having the ability to support your knee, foot, ankle or leg
Has difficulties with normal movement of a joint
Bone or joint out of place
Extreme weakness in the arm and/or leg
Chronic Injury
In this case, injuries appear when we practice sports for a long period of time, and can result from frequent poor posture, muscle overload, etc. The symptoms of a chronic injury are usually accompanied by:
Pain while exercising
mild pain
swelling
Pain even at rest
When we hurt ourselves, regardless of the reason or type of injury, it is advisable to abandon all activity or movement. Otherwise, the damage caused may worsen and the affected areas may become more vulnerable to relapses.
COMMON CAUSES OF SPORTS INJURIES
- Accidents: falls, blows, being hit by a ball… these are the most common causes.
- Poor or insufficient warm-up before exercising.
- Improper technique, such as lifting weights that are too heavy for your fitness level.
- Inadequate sports gear for the activity — for example, wearing boots without studs to play on grass.
- Worn-out or damaged equipment, such as using broken weights that could fall.
- Skipping stretches after exercising, or doing them incorrectly, as can happen in activities like yoga.
HOW TO PREVENT SPORTS INJURIES
Sports and injuries tend to go hand in hand, no matter your skill level or the type of activity. Professional soccer, for example, is one of the sports where endurance — and, at times, overexertion and strain — leads players to suffer various injuries to muscles, ligaments, or joints.
But you don't have to wait until you get hurt to start taking care of yourself! Building preventive habits into your routine is always a great way to keep your body strong and resilient.
To help avoid a sports injury, it's best to:
- Wear the right protective gear. Depending on the sport, this might include a helmet, knee pads, a mouthguard, wristbands, elbow pads, a back support belt, and so on.
- Warm up before exercising. Ideally, do some stretching and light movement to warm up your muscles before full activity.
- Practice respect and good sportsmanship. This is especially important in contact sports like rugby, soccer, or basketball. A respectful, positive dynamic between teams helps reduce the frequency of injuries.
- Stop if you feel pain or strain. Pushing through pain often leads to a more serious injury.
- Use targeted creams as part of your routine. Incorporate natural products that work deeply into the muscle. Here are two highly effective options:
- Relax Gel: A muscle gel with pure aloe vera, suitable for athletes of all levels. Thanks to its cold-hot effect, you'll feel an invigorating coolness that helps restore your body to its normal state. This gel is designed to relieve muscle tension with a soothing, pain-relieving effect. Its key benefits include minerals, amino acids, and hydrating, regenerating vitamins. Apply it a couple of times a day with a light massage to quickly ease discomfort.
- Pure Gel: A fully organic product. Thanks to its 100% pure aloe vera concentration, it hydrates, soothes, and helps regenerate skin damaged by overexertion. Pure Gel not only relieves pain and hydrates the skin, it's also ideal for supporting clotting, thanks to its potassium, calcium, and cellulose content. Since outdoor exercise also exposes you to external factors like insect bites or sunburn, Pure Gel offers a double benefit: faster healing and skin repair. Simply apply and gently massage until fully absorbed.
TREATMENT: HOW TO HEAL A SPORTS INJURY
Most sports injuries can be treated, but it's important to act quickly and follow the right steps for a fast recovery. If you've already gotten hurt, here are a few tips to help you bounce back quickly:
- The RICE method: Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. Each of these steps plays a key role in early recovery.
- Pain relievers: These help manage pain that can sometimes be unbearable. Combined with professional rehabilitation techniques, they can help speed up recovery.
- Gels and creams: Products like Atlantia's pure aloe vera gels — Relax Gel and Pure Gel — can help ease many types of pain, including back pain, arthritis pain, post-surgical pain, or pain from improper physical activity.
Thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, aloe vera acts almost like a wonder plant for treating sports-related ailments such as sprains, strains, scrapes from falls, and chafing.
These are some helpful tips, but we're not sports injury specialists — if you need one, please consult a professional and follow their guidance closely. What we can promise is the benefits you'll get from our gels with regular use. Don't wait until you're injured to start taking care of your body — start pampering it today!
