Many of us who regularly workout will experience injuries now and again. While a simple sprain or pulled muscle may be able to heal on its own without having to make too many changes to your everyday life, other injuries may be more severe and may require more rigorous lifestyle changes. This guide lists 7 workout injuries you should never ignore.
Knee pain
Knee injuries such as runner’s knee can be quite serious if you ignore them. Such injuries are often the result of cartilage damage and can result in a lot of pain. In some cases, such injuries may even require an operation to treat. You may be advised to switch to low impact exercises such as swimming to reduce the pain.
Elbow pain
Many different types of injuries can affect the elbow. Tennis elbow is very common in many types of sports and is something you don’t want to ignore. You can usually treat this by resting your arm and by wearing an elbow support.
Shin splints
Overloading the leg muscles can lead to pain in the shins known as shin splints. Runners, dancers and gymnasts are most likely to develop these injuries. If ignored, shin splints can lead to more serious problems such as lower leg compartment syndrome or a stress fracture. If you have shin pain, it is best to rest your leg for a while and possibly see a physiotherapist.
Plantar fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is characterized by pain on the bottom of the foot. It is typically caused by exercising on hard surfaces – often without the right footwear. If untreated, plantar fasciitis can lead to plantar rupture, which can be a much more serious foot injury that is harder to recover from. For this reason, you should always get foot pain checked out and rest your foot when this occurs.
Shoulder sprain
A chronically sore shoulder could be the result of a rotator cuff tear. This is an injury that you’ll want to rest and get checked out – not treating this injury could lead to a permanent shoulder injury. Diagnosing shoulder injuries can also be important for checking for injuries like dislocations or fractures.
Swollen ankle
Ankle pain may not always be something to worry about, however if it’s accompanied by swelling it could be a sign of something more serious. If there’s noticeable swelling and you can barely put your weight on it, it could be worth visiting an urgent care clinic to check that your ankle isn’t fractured or that you haven’t torn a ligament. You’ll likely need to rest your ankle for a few weeks to let it recover, which could mean giving up high-impact physical activity and walking on crutches.
Lower back pain
Lower back pain is often caused by over-strenuous heavy lifting. This is something you may also want to see a doctor about if it persists – it could just be a muscle strain, however it could be a spinal injury such as a slipped disc, which could get worse if you do not seek treatment.