Sprains, Knee Ligament tears, muscle bruising and
tears, Overhead shoulder pain (in people playing racket
sports such as Tennis, Badminton), Tennis elbow, Golfers
elbow, Meniscus/cartilage tears in the knee, shoulder
dislocations, Patellofemoral syndrome (pain at the
front of the knee) and tendon rupture (achilles tendon
at the heel in Badminton players) are some of the
common problems often faced by people indulging in
sport. Surprisingly, these problems also often occur
in people who do not play sport.
Injury prevention can be achieved by the following
measures:
-
Warm-up, stretching, exercises
-
Correct equipment and technique
-
Tapes, splints, braces, protectors
-
Appropriate shoes with gels
and supports
-
Appropriate surfaces & good
environmental conditions
A Sprain (for example, Ankle Sprain)
is a Ligament injury. Sprains range from partial damage
to a complete ligament tear. Complete tears often need
surgery to repair them Treatment of minor or moderate
sprains involves
- Rest
- Ice packs
- Compression (crepe bandage)
- Elevation, that is, keep injured part at higher
level than rest of body (eg. in ankle sprain, keep
2 pillows under that leg)
- Sometimes need Plaster, Splints, Braces, Tapes
- Medicines to decrease pain and swelling (Non steroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs)
Tennis elbow is inflammation of tendons
on the outside of the elbow, while Golfers elbow is
inflammation of tendons on the inside of the elbow.
They cause severe elbow pain and difficulty in holding
objects. In Tennis players and Golfers, they occur due
to faulty playing technique or improper grip or racket
size. Even non-sportsmen suffer from these conditions,
especially typists or ladies who wash clothes and utensils.
This is a curable problem. Various proven treatment
modalities exist such as
- Activity modification and correction of faulty playing
technique
- Special straps applied around the elbow
- Ultrasonic and laser therapy
- Local steroid injections
This revolutionary procedure is also
called as Minimally invasive or Keyhole surgery. A very
small cosmetic cut is made over the problem joint (Knee,
Shoulder, Ankle, Elbow or Wrist) and a telescope called
Arthroscope with an attached camera is inserted into
the joint. This gives us a magnified view of the inside
of the joint on a Television screen. The entire joint
can be seen clearly and a precise diagnosis of the problem
can be made. Special tiny instruments (like shavers
and burrs) are inserted into the joint to tackle the
problem areas. This gives spectacular results and you
can be up and walking briskly within a few hours of
the surgery.
Cartilage or meniscus tears can be trimmed or repaired,
Anterior cruciate ligament injuries can be repaired
or reconstructed, and shoulder problems can be repaired
or shaved with Arthroscopy.
Sports injuries can often lead to
serious and disabling problems such as Arthritis in
later years if neglected. Ligament tears in the knee
cause ‘wobbly’ or unstable knees and can
lead to Osteoarthritis. Cartilage or meniscus tears
cause severe pain and ‘catching’ of the
joint. Almost all sports injuries are curable. Most
are treated by simple measures while others need Arthroscopy.
Either way, the outlook is bright if early Specialist
attention is sought.
Arthritis of the hip joint is a common
problem. It occurs due to damage to the hip joint from
various conditions such as Avascular Necrosis (death
of bone due to lack of blood supply), Trauma or Injury
(previous hip fractures), Infection, Rheumatoid arthritis,
Ankylosing Spondylitis and other diseases. It causes
severe pain, stiffness, deformity, decreased mobility
and severe disability. In India, hip joint arthritis
affects even the younger population who are barely 20
or 30 years of age. This can lead to disruption of family
and social life, inability to work for a living and
difficulty in moving about.
What do you do if you need a new hip but you cannot
face the daunting prospect of a conventional total hip
replacement (THR)? The answer lies in a revolutionary
surgery to reline the arthritic hip joint called Hip
Resurfacing (BHR or ASR).
Patients who have undergone this pioneering Hip Resurfacing
operation are able to walk as much as 5 miles a day,
as early as 6 weeks after the operation. They can jog,
swim, dance, run and even play high-impact sports, and
the resurfaced hip does not dislocate or slip out of
joint! Patients are also able to sit cross-legged or
squat on the floor and can even use an Indian toilet
after this surgery.
A 12-year-old National level tennis
player presented with severe pain and swelling over
the lower part of the front of both knees that almost
threatened her career. After careful examination, a
diagnosis of Osgood Schlatter disease was made. She
was given appropriate medicines, her whole training
pattern and training surface was changed, and she was
advised appropriate exercises. Within a few weeks, she
was back at playing sport and a few months later she
recovered fully, and now follows her revised training
programme.
Mr A, a 25-year-old sportsman was
affected by severe Arthritis of both hips. He was in
severe pain and could barely walk even with 2 people
holding him. This affected his personal and social life.
He underwent Hip Resurfacing and is mobile today without
any pain. He can walk 4 km a day and is able to play
tennis and badminton.
Seek
early attention for sports problems as almost all of
these can be solved with correct diagnosis and advice.
Delay in diagnosis and treatment may lead to Arthritis.
Jaslok Hospital is a Centre of Excellence
for state-of-the-art Arthroscopy, Sports Injury Management,
Joint Replacement and Hip Resurfacing Surgery. This
clinic functions on Friday from 3.00 pm to 4.00 pm in
Jaslok Hospital.
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