Visible increase in sports injuries
As individuals seeking to transition to an active lifestyle post-pandemic turn to exercise without proper guidance, the frequency of sports injuries has increased. On average, 1 out of every 7 to 10 patients visiting orthopedic clinics is seeking care due to a sports injury.
İHA
Orthopedics and Traumatology Specialist Prof. Dr. İbrahim Tuncay warned that sports injuries could turn into permanent disabilities, stating, “Permanent damage can occur in cases of multiple sports injuries, delayed treatment, insufficient rehabilitation, failure to follow the basic rules of rehabilitation, returning to sports too early after treatment, and recurring injuries.”
Tuncay drew attention to the danger, especially in children and young people, saying, "Disproportionate training performed before the maturation of the musculoskeletal system is complete and overloading the body are the two most fundamental risk factors for sports injuries.
Especially in popular and media-covered branches like football, underestimating and failing to properly treat what might be considered simple, beginner-level injuries in highly talented athletes at the start of their professional careers brings serious long-term risks. Clubs and families being conscious about this issue contributes to many potential star athletes continuing their sports lives and performance without interruption.
"SPORTS ACTIVITIES DONE BY ROTE CAN LEAD TO ORTHOPEDIC PROBLEMS"
As for those doing amateur sports outside of professional settings; due to the increasing perception of visuality today, heavy sports done without awareness, as well as supplements used excessively and without knowledge, pose major risks that can even lead to death. Regardless of age, failure to perform adequate warm-up and stretching exercises, the use of unsuitable artificial turf fields, and inadequate or inappropriate sports equipment are also general risk factors.
The sport that every individual can perform can be determined by evaluating it specifically according to their age, weight, physical characteristics, and general health status. Every sports activity done by rote can bring with it orthopedic problems,” he said.
Prof. Dr. Tuncay listed the main causes of the most common sports injuries, which vary depending on the sport performed, as follows: “The most common injuries in football, which is the most widespread sport in our society, are muscle injuries, intra-knee injuries (meniscus injuries, ligament injuries such as anterior cruciate ligament, cartilage injuries, and combinations of these), while in basketball and volleyball, they are primarily shoulder and elbow injuries, as well as intra-knee injuries, and foot and ankle injuries.
Touching upon treatment options for sports injuries, Tuncay said, “Depending on the condition of the injury, the treatment process is evaluated in two different ways: surgical and non-surgical treatments.
In muscle injuries, modalities such as local injections like PRP, heat application, electrical stimulation, and physical therapy like ultrasound can generally be applied. Non-surgical solutions can also be evaluated for meniscal injuries that do not show complete separation. However, surgical treatments can be applied for separated meniscus lesions, anterior cruciate ligament lesions, and cartilage injuries, especially in professional athletes,” he said.