Sports injuries

Causes of sports injuries

Sports injuries can be caused by:

• an accident – such as a fall or heavy blow
• not warming up properly before exercising
• using inappropriate equipment or poor technique
• pushing yourself too hard

Almost any part of the body can be injured, including the muscles, bones, joints and connective tissues (tendons and ligaments).

The ankles and knees are particularly prone to injury.

What to do if you have an injury

If you've injured yourself, you may have:

• immediate pain
• tenderness
• swelling
• bruising
• restricted movement or stiffness in the affected area

Sometimes, these symptoms may only be noticeable several hours after exercising or playing sports.

Stop exercising if you feel pain.

This is regardless of whether your injury happened suddenly or you’ve had the pain for a while.

Continuing to exercise while injured may cause further damage and slow your recovery.

If you have a minor injury, you don't usually need to see a doctor and can look after yourself at home.

You may want to visit your GP for advice or if your symptoms don't get better over time.

If you have a severe injury, such as a broken bone, dislocation or severe head injury, go to your nearest emergency department as soon as possible.

Treating a sports injury

You can usually treat common minor injuries yourself.

For further advice, see:

• Sprains and strains

If your symptoms are severe or don't improve within a few days or weeks, your GP may be able to refer you for specialist treatment and support, such as physiotherapy.

Serious injuries will occasionally require a procedure or operation. This is to align misplaced bones, fix broken bones, or repair torn ligaments.

Depending on the type of injury, it can take a few weeks or months to make a full recovery. 

While recovering, it's important not to do too much too soon. You should aim to increase your level of activity gradually over time.

Preventing sports injuries

You can reduce your risk of getting injured by:

• warming up before exercise
• stretching after exercise
• not pushing your body beyond your current fitness level
• using the right equipment, for example, wearing running shoes for running, shin guards for football and a gum shield for rugby
• receiving coaching to learn the right techniques

When starting a new sport or activity, get advice and training from a qualified fitness trainer or sports coach.

More useful links

• How to use your health services