Sports and Dance Injuries

Sports and dance have many benefits for your health, but they are physically demanding in terms of one’s strength, flexibility and stamina. This can also make one susceptible to injuries.

Sports and dance injuries involve damage to the body’s tissues, specifically the bones, joints and muscles. Sports injuries in Singapore can either occur suddenly (acute) or develop over time (chronic).

Sports injuries commonly affect the:

• Ankle - Ankle pain and stiffness may occur as a result of a sprain, overuse, or fracture.
• Elbow - Pain in the elbow occurs when nerves at the joint are damaged or compressed, and usually happens in sports like tennis and weight-lifting.
• Head - Concussions and skull fractures damage the scalp or skull, which can result in serious injuries or may even be fatal.
• Knee – Knee pain is commonly caused by tears, fractures and dislocation. For popular sports like soccer and basketball, the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is one of the most common forms of orthopaedic sports injuries.
• Shoulder - Shoulder pain is usually caused by overuse or repetitive movements, especially in contact sports, sports that require a lot of overhead movements (e.g. swimming) and dance.

What Are Some Common Causes of Sports and Dance Injuries?

Sports and dance injuries have a range of causes, including:

• Overtraining and inappropriate warm-ups
• Overusing of muscles and joints
• Accidents like a fall or collision
• Not wearing proper protective equipment and gear
• Wearing of poor-fitting shoes that do not have much support
• Taking part in strenuous exercises or activities

What Are Common Sports and Dance Injuries?

The most common types of dance and sports injuries include:

• Cartilage tear – Also known as a meniscus tear, this is an injury caused by a forceful twist in the cartilage, resulting in a partial or full tear.
• Concussion – A blow or jolt to the head can cause the brain to bounce or move around the skull, leading to headaches, memory and concentration problems, or even unconsciousness.
• Dislocation – This occurs when bones connected to a joint become displaced from their original position. A bad fall or participation in high-impact sports are common causes of dislocation.
• Fracture – This refers to a crack or complete break of the bones, often in the wrist, ankle and foot due to trauma or overuse.
• Sprains – A sprain occurs when ligaments are stretched or torn due to a bad fall or a collision that displaces or damages the joint. The ankle, knee and wrist are most vulnerable to sprains.
• Strains – Strains are common sports injuries that occur when the muscles or tendons are twisted or overstretched.
• Tendinitis – This injury occurs when the thick fibrous cord (tendon) that links the muscle and bone become inflamed.

What Are the Treatments for Sports and Dance Injuries?

Sports injuries treatments in Singapore vary depending on the type and severity of injury. Common treatments include:

• PRICE Therapy – This involves wearing a support for protection, resting the injured area, applying ice packs appropriately, using compression bandages and elevating the injured area above heart level.
• Medication - Over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen can help reduce pain and swelling.
• Immobilisation – It involves stabilizing and resting the injured parts to prevent further damage. This may come in the form of slings, splints and casts.
• Physiotherapy – Some sport injury clinics in Singapore offer physiotherapy services to speed up recovery and improve movement and function of the injured areas.
• Injections – Corticosteroid injections can aid in pain relief and reduction of acute inflammation caused by injury.
• Surgery – In more serious cases of structural damage, surgery may be required, such as complete bone fractures.

What Are the Sports and Dance Injuries We Treat?

Common dance and sports injuries that we treat include:

• Sprains and strains
• Tendon overuse injuries and tears
• Joint instability & dislocation
• Cartilage injury
• Osteoarthritis and bone spurs
• Ligament injury and rupture
• Knee meniscus injury
• Fractures (including stress fractures)
• Contusions
• Impingement syndromes
• Slipped intervertebral disc
• Nerve compression

When Should I Seek Medical Attention for a Sports Injury?

Seek medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms in the injured area:

• Severe pain that hinders movement
• Extensive swelling
• Heavy bleeding
• Incapacity to use injured parts
• Deformity of injured areas
• Restricted movement of joint

Regardless of severity, all dance and sports injuries should be seen by a doctor, especially if it is persistent or affecting your day-to-day activities. Dr Kevin Koo is an experienced orthopaedic surgeon in Singapore who specialises in the management of sports and dance injuries through conservative treatment and minimally invasive surgery.