Myths and Facts About Common Sports Injuries

By Medical Expert Team

Oct 09 , 2018 | 2 min read

Despite the abundance of information related to sports injuries and prevention available in the public domain, many myths associated with injury recovery still prevail. These myths give patients unreasonable expectations from their recoveries. To help know the truth, we have listed the most common myths related to sports injuries and the real facts based on research evidence. Read on to know them:

Myth1 -Running will damage your knees

Fact - Recreational running will not damage the knees. In fact, running helps to make your bones and muscles stronger. Any joint pain after running could be a bio-mechanical problem or poor running mechanics.

Myth2 -ACL tear is a career-ending injury

Fact - ACL tear is a major injury in an athlete’s career. However, it is in no way career-ending.Arthroscopic surgerywith an individualise rehab programme will help you recover to your previous level of the sport. Numerous national and international athletes have come back stronger from an ACL injury.

Myth3 -I will get better if I do the exercises more than the prescribed limit

Fact - Doing more than prescribed can be counterproductive and delay recovery. Stick to the limit and take it easy. Trust your doctor.

Myth4 -Rest is best

Fact - Complete rest in case of minor sprains/strains is not advocated. Activity modification rather than complete rest is the way to go. Even in major injuries, exercising other body parts can be a way to remain fit.

Myth5 -Applying heat to treat an acute injury

Fact - Any acute injury causes inflammation which in turn leads to the sensation of pain. Cold therapy helps to reduce this swelling and decrease. Heat therapy, although may sometimes provide pain relief, will increase the swelling and lead to poorer outcomes.

Myth6 -Running off a shin splint

Fact - Shin splints are overuse injuries of the bone which need rest and activity modification. You simply cannot run off a shin splint as it may lead to worsening of the condition and even a stress fracture. Consult a doctor.

Myth7 -Glucosamine will treat my osteoarthritis

Fact - Glucosamine is only an adjunct used in the treatment of OA and does not have any benefit independently. Exercise and activity modification remain the mainstay of treatment, withjoint replacementsbeing the answer to advanced 2 severe sosteoarthritis.

Myth8 -No pain, no gain!

Fact - Despite popular belief that you need to go through pain in order to become stronger, this is really not the case. Exercises should be stimulating and challenging, but not to the limit of being painful. Consult a doctor if you feel pain during exercise or training.

Myth9 -Ankle sprains happen to everybody all the time, I don’t need to see a doctor

Fact - An ankle sprain is the most commonsports injuryand unfortunately has a lot of associated morbidity. It may involve a fracture, a ligament sprain or even a muscle or cartilage lesion. These injuries, if ignored in the beginning, could be a challenge to treat in the later stages.

Myth10 -Being strong will prevent injury

Fact - If this was true, football players would never get injured. Honestly, any athlete can get injured at any time. Building muscle strength is definitely important to allow the body and joints to move against large acts of resistance, such as lifting, jumping, and running. But those muscles can still tear, tendons can rip, and bones can break — especially if an athlete is over-exerting, fatigued, or dehydrated. Proper training and conditioning are still the best ways to lower the risk of injury. Knowing these myths will not only help you set better expectations but also ensure that you are not doing anything that may inhibit the recovery process.