How are sports injuries diagnosed?
Some sports injuries are more easily diagnosed than others. Some simpler cases such as dislocations, cuts and scrapes are diagnosed by seeing or feeling the injury. Cases that are more difficult, such as soft tissue damage, fractures and overuse injuries require an examination. The specialist will examine the more complex ones using X-rays, CT or MRI. The physician will also ask questions about the patient’s medical history to identify any underlying problems. The patient may be directed to a specialist for a proper diagnosis.
What are the most common sports injuries?
The most common sports injuries are:
- Sprained ankle.
- Groin strain or groin pull.
- Hamstring injuries.
- Pain in the shins.
- Knee injuries, such as anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears and patellofemoral pain syndrome or PFPS.
- Epicondylitis or tennis elbow.
The specialist will examine the most complex ones using X-rays, CT or MRI.
What tests are performed to detect sports injuries?
There are many different methods and tools that are used by sports medicine specialists to detect injuries. Shoulder (rotator cuff) injuries are best identified by observing and feeling the shoulder joint through the use of different motions. Injuries usually result in limited motion, and therefore, pain that occurs as a result of a variety of movements that can diagnose a certain type of injury. Strength tests can also identify any signs of weakness in the joint.
If cartilage tears occur in the knee, the doctor will apply pressure to see if he or she feels any tenderness at the top or around the cartilage. The knee may also be flexed so that the doctor can hear a crunch or pop when he or she bends the knee. This is known as the McMurray test and is performed while the patient is lying down. The Ege test involves the patient squatting down so that the specialist can check for a crack or pop as he or she bends the knee. There are several tests that are used to detect a torn or strained ligament in the knee. Such as the Lachman test, the anterior drawer test and the knee marking test. Most of these tests consist of applying pressure to the knee joint, as well as moving and bending the knee. The severity of the injury is usually determined by the movement or position of the other parts of the legs and the location of the pain.
What are the different types of diagnostic tests available?
Diagnostic tests help physicians identify specific sports injuries. These tests include X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, ultrasound scanning and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).