From the Guidelines
The most common diagnoses in sports medicine include sprains and strains, tendinopathies, stress fractures, concussions, and patellofemoral pain syndrome. According to the most recent evidence from 1, stress fractures account for up to 20% of all injuries seen in sports medicine clinics.
Common Diagnoses
- Sprains (ligament injuries) and strains (muscle/tendon injuries) occur frequently, with ankle sprains being particularly prevalent across many sports.
- Tendinopathies like Achilles tendinitis, patellar tendinopathy, and tennis/golfer's elbow develop from repetitive overuse and inadequate recovery.
- Stress fractures commonly affect weight-bearing bones in runners and jumpers due to repetitive microtrauma, as noted in 1.
- Concussions are prevalent in contact sports like football, hockey, and soccer, requiring careful assessment and graduated return-to-play protocols, as discussed in 1.
- Patellofemoral pain syndrome affects many athletes with knee pain, especially during activities involving knee flexion.
Other Conditions
Other common conditions include:
- Rotator cuff injuries in overhead athletes
- Plantar fasciitis in runners
- Shin splints in athletes with high-impact activities
- IT band syndrome in runners and cyclists
- ACL tears, which are particularly common in sports requiring cutting and pivoting movements These injuries typically result from a combination of overuse, improper technique, inadequate conditioning, or direct trauma during athletic activities. While mental health issues are also a concern in athletes, as discussed in 1, the most common physical diagnoses remain sprains, strains, tendinopathies, stress fractures, concussions, and patellofemoral pain syndrome.
From the Research
Common Diagnoses in Sports Medicine
- Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are one of the most common diagnoses in sports medicine, with over two million occurrences worldwide annually 2
- ACL injuries can have negative long-term physical and psychological impacts, and diagnosis is made with a combination of patient history, clinical examination, and magnetic resonance imaging 3
- The management of ACL injuries depends on individual factors, including age, type and degree of injury, and anticipated future activity level 4
Characteristics of ACL Injuries
- ACL injuries occur more commonly in young and active individuals, particularly female athletes 2, 5
- The classic presentation of an ACL injury is a non-contact twisting injury with an audible pop and rapid onset of swelling 6
- ACL injuries can be career-ending for athletes and severely disabling for all individuals 5
Management and Treatment Options
- Treatment options for ACL injuries include rehabilitation, ACL reconstruction, and pre-operative rehabilitation followed by ACL reconstruction and post-operative rehabilitation 3
- Operative treatment is often recommended for active patients, while less-active patients may not require surgery 6
- The goal of management is to restore knee function, address psychological barriers to activity participation, prevent further injury and osteoarthritis, and optimize long-term quality of life 3