Sports-related upper limb injuries often result from repetitive motion, overuse, or trauma. These injuries can affect the shoulder, elbow, wrist, or hand and vary in severity depending on the sport and activity. Here are some common ones:
Shoulder Injuries
- Rotator Cuff Injuries
- Cause: Overhead motions (e.g., throwing, swimming, tennis) can strain or tear the rotator cuff tendons.
- Symptoms: Pain, weakness, and difficulty lifting the arm.
- Shoulder Dislocations and Subluxations
- Cause: High-impact collisions (e.g., football, rugby) or falls.
- Symptoms: Severe pain, visible deformity, and limited range of motion.
- Shoulder Impingement Syndrome
- Cause: Repetitive overhead activities can compress tendons between the shoulder bones.
- Symptoms: Pain during arm elevation, weakness, and reduced range of motion.
- Labrum Tears (SLAP Lesions)
- Cause: Overhead throwing or falls on outstretched arms can tear the cartilage around the shoulder socket.
- Symptoms: Pain, popping sensations, and shoulder instability.
- Clavicle Fractures (Collarbone)
- Cause: Falls or direct trauma (e.g., cycling, snowboarding).
- Symptoms: Pain, swelling, and difficulty moving the arm.
Elbow Injuries
- Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis)
- Cause: Repetitive wrist extension in sports like tennis, pickleball, or racquetball.
- Symptoms: Pain on the outer elbow, worsened by gripping or lifting.
- Golfer’s Elbow (Medial Epicondylitis)
- Cause: Repetitive wrist flexion in sports like golf, baseball, or weightlifting.
- Symptoms: Pain on the inner elbow, weakness in grip.
- Little League Elbow
- Cause: Overuse of the elbow joint in young athletes, particularly in throwing sports.
- Symptoms: Pain on the inside of the elbow, reduced throwing ability.
- Olecranon Bursitis
- Cause: Repeated falls or pressure on the elbow in sports like wrestling or hockey.
- Symptoms: Swelling and tenderness at the back of the elbow.
Wrist and Hand Injuries
- Wrist Sprains
- Cause: Falling onto an outstretched hand (common in gymnastics, skateboarding, or soccer).
- Symptoms: Pain, swelling, and difficulty moving the wrist.
- Scaphoid Fractures
- Cause: Falls onto an outstretched hand in sports like snowboarding or cycling.
- Symptoms: Pain and tenderness in the thumb side of the wrist.
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Cause: Repetitive hand or wrist movements in sports like weightlifting or rowing.
- Symptoms: Tingling, numbness, and weakness in the thumb, index, and middle fingers.
- Mallet Finger
- Cause: A sudden blow to the tip of a finger, bending it forcefully (common in basketball or volleyball).
- Symptoms: Inability to straighten the fingertip.
- Boxer’s Fracture
- Cause: Punching or impact to the hand (e.g., in boxing, martial arts).
- Symptoms: Pain, swelling, and deformity at the base of the fingers.
Traumatic Injuries
- Fractures
- Common Sites: Collarbone, humerus, forearm, wrist, or hand bones.
- Cause: Direct impacts, falls, or collisions.
- Symptoms: Severe pain, swelling, and inability to use the affected limb.
- Dislocations
- Common Sites: Shoulder, elbow, or fingers.
- Cause: High-force trauma or falls.
- Symptoms: Visible deformity, intense pain, and immobility.
- Tendon Ruptures
- Common Sites: Biceps or triceps.
- Cause: Sudden forceful movements (e.g., weightlifting or throwing sports).
- Symptoms: Pain, swelling, and loss of function.
Overuse Injuries
- Tendinitis
- Cause: Repeated stress on tendons in sports like swimming, tennis, or rowing.
- Symptoms: Pain, stiffness, and tenderness around the affected tendon.
- De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis
- Cause: Overuse of the thumb tendons in sports like golf or racquet sports.
- Symptoms: Pain and swelling near the base of the thumb.
- Stress Fractures
- Common Sites: Wrist or forearm.
- Cause: Overuse in sports like gymnastics or climbing.
- Symptoms: Pain that worsens with activity and improves with rest.
Prevention and Management
- Warm-Up: Always start with a proper warm-up to prepare muscles and joints.
- Technique: Use proper form to reduce stress on the upper limbs.
- Rest and Recovery: Allow time for recovery to avoid overuse injuries.
- Strength Training: Build strength in stabilizing muscles.
- Protective Gear: Use braces, wrist guards, or gloves as needed.
- Early Intervention: Seek medical attention if pain or dysfunction persists to avoid worsening the injury.
Proper conditioning and attention to biomechanics can significantly reduce the risk of these injuries.