Abkhazia Institute for Social and Economic Research

Epicondylitis
-    affects the elbow and typically occurs in sports requiring frequent wrist manipulation and forearm rotation.
-    The lateral (affecting the outer elbow) form is tennis elbow.
-    The medial (affecting the inner elbow) form is golfer's elbow.

Lower-back injuries
-    such as muscle tears, are common in sports that involve a lot of bending.
The high velocity and full contact nature of hockey and football frequently cause neck and spine injuries, such as a herniated disk, in which an intervertebral disk protrudes from the spinal column.

Groin strain
- may result from intense leg movement, including twisting and spreading that tears the adductor muscle which connects the leg with the pubic bone.

Patellar tendonitis (jumper's knee)
-    are most common lower-body injuries.
-    Continual jumping may result in tearing of the tendon just below the kneecap, or patella. The knees may also suffer from other injuries, such as tears of the meniscus.
Charley horse
-    sudden tearing of muscle fibers that may occur after excessive athletic activity and the consequent accumulation of fluid in the muscle that causes pain, tenderness and local swelling.   
Increased interest in jogging and cross training has resulted in a parallel rise in leg injuries, including shin splints, tendonitis and stress fractures, especially in the tibia or fibula bones. If continually exposed to stress from prolonged standing, running or walking, a stress fracture may result in a larger fracture.  
The foot often falls victim to injury because it must support the weight of the entire body. Plantar fascitis often affects inexperienced runners, causing pain along the inner heel and along the arch of the foot, sometimes accompanied by stiffness and numbness in the heel. A similar problem, march fracture, develops in the bones of the foot when extreme stress (running, walking) is continually placed on the ball of the foot.
Symptoms
Pain, discomfort, restricted movement, tenderness and swelling may be indicative of some form of muscle or ligament injury, such as a sprain or strain.
Pain, swelling, tenderness and deformity may indicate a fracture.
Pain, restricted movement, misshapen appearance and swelling in a joint are symptoms of a dislocation.
Localized pain just below the kneecap may be a sign of patellar tendonitis. In adolescents, the condition may indicate Osgood-Schlatter disease if accompanied by swelling.
Pain in the elbow, often accompanied by tenderness in the inner or outer portion of the elbow and forearm, and possibly a weak and painful grasp, may indicate epicondylitis
 Causes
An AC separation results from sudden impact on the side of the shoulder or on an outstretched arm. Wear on the rotator cuff, causing rotator cuff tendonitis, may occur if you continually engage in sports that require overhead motion like that in a tennis serve. Medial epicondylitis is caused by traumatic, repetitive arm motion, as when pitching in baseball. Sudden, violent twisting of the elbow or continual pulling and strain on the forearm muscles can cause the condition.
A charley horse is usually caused by a sudden, acute strain in the leg, but mineral deficiency, hormone imbalance, calcium deposits in the muscles or dehydration can also be causes. Muscle imbalance, a poorly aligned leg, or running on a hard road with improper footwear may cause a stress fracture. Tight hamstrings may contribute to lower-back problems, and tight Achilles tendons may precede cases of tendonitis of the foot and ankle.
Diagnosis
Basic assessment begins with medical history and a physical exam.
X-rays.
Bone scan.
Arthroscopy, tiny camera inside a very small tube, called an arthroscope, to examine the interior of your joints; it is useful in both diagnosing and repairing some joint injuries (for example, cartilage fragments can be removed through the tube).
ultrasound
magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) produces excellent images of soft tissue, enabling diagnosis of damage to muscles, ligaments and tendons.
Treatment
Treatment for sports injuries aims to relieve pain, repair or realign bones and restore body to its full athletic ability.
Most minor soft-tissue injuries are best treated with RICE: rest, ice, compression, elevation.
Injuries such as tendonitis and plantar fasciitis usually require rest and a rehabilitation program to maintain flexibility and strength. Aspirin or ibuprofen may help reduce the pain and inflammation that accompany these conditions.
Depending on the severity of the pain, your physician may treat your epicondylitis with an injection of a corticosteroid, with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, or with aspirin. An elbow cuff and physical therapy may also be indicated. For acute pain as a result of an AC separation, codeine may be prescribed for the first couple of days. Thereafter, aspirin and a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug may be taken for chronic pain. immobilize the injured area with a sling.
If possible, the displaced bones of a dislocation are manipulated back into place. If this is not feasible, you may need surgery, after which the joint is immobilized until it is stable.
At-Home Remedies
Use the RICE method.
Replacing fluids lost through perspiration with a carbohydrate-electrolyte sports drink helps prevent cramping.
Ice packs reduce swelling; a bag of frozen vegetables can be a makeshift ice pack. Do not use chemical cold packs; they are much colder than water packs. Place a damp towel around your pack so that it is not directly on your skin. Use ice for up to 48 hours after an injury to reduce swelling and pain. However, be aware that temporary stiffness may also result.
A warm compress may relieve muscle pain, especially before massage and stretching.
To relieve cramping, elevate the affected area to direct blood flow toward the heart. Gently stretching the muscle will usually stop a cramp.
If muscles are sore the day after a tough workout, soak in a hot tub and rest the affected area.
Prevention
Sports injuries usually result when the muscles are poorly conditioned. You should have a 10-minute warmup session - running in place or doing jumping jacks - before an athletic activity to increase your body temperature and diminish chances of muscle injury. Stretching before and especially after your workout will prevent soreness the next day. (Always warm up with 5 to 10 minutes of light to moderate activity before you stretch.)  
Engage in your sport or exercise at least three times a week to maintain proper conditioning.
The highlighted areas show some of the sites of common injuries sustained from sports or other physical activity. The best way to prevent an athletic injury is to be in good physical condition and to stretch for several minutes before and after exercising. Never attempt to "play through" pain — doing so may cause more extensive injury and lengthen the time needed for complete healing.