An exploration of common and career-ending sports injuries
Just barely clearing the second hurdle, Sophie Weissenberg suddenly collapsed, clutching her ankle in agony and sobbing in pain on the ground. In the 2024 Paris Olympics, Sophie Weissenberg, a 26-year-old German athlete about to make her Olympic debut, suffered a tragic injury, tearing her Achilles tendon right before her first heptathlon event. Despite her promising ranking and strong achievements, Sophie’s Olympic dreams were crushed by a sports injury, leaving her heartbroken (1). Injuries can play a major role in an athlete’s career and day-to-day training. Similarly to Sophie, many athletes suffer from acute or chronic injuries, ranging anywhere from broken bones to concussions. In the US alone, over 3.5 million injuries occur each year from children and teens participating in sports (2). Sport injuries are also common beyond just athletes, affecting both adults and the elderly. The omnipresent issue highlights the importance of understanding the science and anatomy behind sport injuries.
Sophie Weissenberg leaving the Olympics after her injury. https://nypost.com/2024/08/08/sports/sophie-weissenberg-leaves-in-wheelchair-after-horrifying-olympics-injury
Sports injuries refer to injuries received through sport activities, but this definition applies to more than just athletes. Even factory workers, gardeners, and even painters can suffer from injuries like tendinitis (3). There are two types of sports injuries: acute injuries, referring to sudden injuries, and chronic injuries that occur over long periods of time. The worst injuries that take the longest to recover from are ACL tear, concussion, patellofemoral syndrome, shoulder dislocation, meniscus tear, sciatica, groin pull, pulled hamstring, and hip flexor strain.
The knee, the largest joint of the body, is needed for almost all forms of movement and is the source of 41% of sports injuries (4). There are three bones that meet to form the knee joint: the femur, tibia, and patella. These bones are connected by four main ligaments that help control knee movement and stability. The ACL is one of the cruciate ligaments found on the inside of the knee. An ACL tear usually occurs following a sudden pivot or cutting maneuver. The injury often requires surgery for a quicker recovery and can take up to a year to fully heal (5). Similarly, inside the knee, the meniscal fibrocartilage is a shock absorber between the femur and tibia and is often torn from acute trauma or impact over time (6). Meniscus tears are most common in high-contact sports such as football, soccer, and basketball, but they also occur due to aging. Ankle joints are also at high risk of injury due to their complex anatomy and range of motion supported by their numerous ligaments.
A diagram of knee tendons focused around ACL tears. https://corephysio.com.au/what-is-an-acl-injury/
Impacting both cognitive awareness and activities, concussions are one of the most common sport injuries that occur in heavy contact sports. The brain is cushioned by fluids and membranes called meninges. During a concussion, the brain is pushed against the skull, potentially causing damage to nerve tissue through bruising and stretching. In severe cases, some injured nerve fibers lose the ability to send signals and communicate with brain cells, permanently worsening cognitive function, taking athletes out of the season or potentially even out of the sport for the rest of their life (7).
While these examples are some of the most common acute sports injuries, there are also injuries caused by muscular overuse. Tendonitis occurs when a tendon becomes inflamed—often in the shoulders, elbows, and knees—and results in pain and discomfort around a joint. The primary cause is repetitive overuse and straining, but tendonitis can also happen as a result of aging or in relation to diseases like diabetes and arthritis (8).
Sports injuries often bring athletes to the end of their careers and can have long-term consequences that permanently affect a person’s daily lifestyle. This common threat of sport injuries brings light to the importance of injury-prevention techniques, such as warm-ups and stretches. Even when your dreams are right in front of you, it’s important to stretch and watch your footing, as a single injury can drag you away from the dream of the global stage.
Bibliography:
- Jacob, B. (2024, August 9). Heartbroken Athlete’s Olympic Dreams Crushed, Leaves In Wheelchair After Horrifying Injury. Retrieved from Bored Panda website: https://www.boredpanda.com/sophie-weissenberg-german-athlete-injury-heptathlon-paris-olympics/
- Sports Injury Statistics. (n.d.). Retrieved from www.hopkinsmedicine.org website: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/sports-injuries/sports-injury-statistics
- NIAMS. (2017, April 5). NIAMS Health Information on Sports Injuries. Retrieved from National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases website: https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/sports-injuries
- Sancheti, P., Razi, M., Ramanathan, E. B. S., & Yung, P. (2010). Injuries around the knee – Symposium. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 44(Suppl 1), i1.1-i1. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.2010.078725.1
- Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injuries – OrthoInfo – AAOS. (2023). Retrieved from Aaos.org website: https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases–conditions/anterior-cruciate-ligament-acl-injuries/
- Meniscus Tears – OrthoInfo – AAOS. (2023). Retrieved from Aaos.org website: https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases–conditions/meniscus-tears/
- Menon, D. (2015). What Happens in the Brain During and After a Concussion? Retrieved from Brainfacts.org website: https://www.brainfacts.org/ask-an-expert/what-happens-in-the-brain-during-and-after-a-concussion
- Tendinopathy. (2023, August 31). Tendonitis: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment. Retrieved from Cleveland Clinic website: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/10919-tendonitis