6 Most Commons Sports Injuries

Common Sports Injuries: Causes, Prevention, and How We Treat Them

Greetings, I’m Dr. James Porco, a Physical Therapist, Strength and Conditioning Specialist, and I provide sports injury treatment in Fort Myers at Back In Motion Physical Therapy & Performance here in Fort Myers, Florida.

In my work with athletes and active adults, I often see the same handful of sports injuries. They can be frustrating, painful, and—if not managed correctly—career- or lifestyle-limiting.

In this article, I’ll walk you through the most common sports injuries we treat, why they happen, who they affect, and what you can do to prevent or recover from them.

1. Ankle Sprain

Ankle sprains are one of the most frequent sports injuries. They involve injury to the ligaments—tough connective tissues that keep your ankle stable.

Sprains are usually classified as low ankle or high ankle sprains, depending on which ligaments are affected. They often occur from rolling the ankle during quick direction changes, but even stepping off a curb awkwardly can cause one.

Prevention & Treatment:
To avoid chronic instability and repeat injuries, it’s important to restore strength, mobility, and stability not only in the ankle, but also in the hip and knee.

2. Groin or Hip Flexor Strain

These strains are common in running, sprinting, hockey, or sports that demand wide stances and explosive movements. They’re often linked to muscle imbalances in the hip flexors or adductors.

Prevention & Treatment:
A proper dynamic warm-up is key. Treatment usually involves strengthening both the adductors and hip flexors while restoring balance between the two.

3. Hamstring Strain

Hamstring strains often occur during sprinting—especially when overstriding or when the muscle lacks flexibility and eccentric strength.

Prevention & Treatment:
The best protection is ensuring the hamstring has both adequate length and strength. Warm-ups that boost blood flow, mobility, and elasticity are critical.
Treatment includes mobilization, soft tissue work, and eccentric strengthening to rebuild both resilience and function.

4. ACL Tear

ACL tears are notorious in sports like football, soccer, and basketball. These non-contact knee injuries often occur with a sudden change in direction, jump landing, or plant-and-twist movement.

Risk factors include faulty biomechanics (like knee valgus), wide hip angles, and muscle imbalances (weak hamstrings, overpowering quadriceps). They are especially common in female athletes.

Prevention & Treatment:
Treatment usually requires surgery followed by a 9–12 month rehab program. Prevention focuses on biomechanics training and strengthening the hips, quads, and hamstrings to protect the knee.

5. Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (“Runner’s Knee”)

Patellofemoral syndrome causes pain at the front of the knee, often seen in runners, dancers, and basketball players. It’s usually due to overuse and poor mechanics, where the kneecap doesn’t glide properly in its groove.

Prevention & Treatment:
Dynamic warm-ups, strengthening weak quads, calming overactive quads, and improving hip and ankle mobility all play a role in keeping the kneecap tracking smoothly.

6. Tennis Elbow & Golfer’s Elbow

These overuse injuries cause pain on either the outside (tennis elbow) or inside (golfer’s elbow) of the elbow. They develop when the tendons are overloaded beyond their capacity, leading to irritation and inflammation.

Prevention & Treatment:
The key is load management—strengthening the forearm and wrist muscles while improving mobility and technique. For chronic cases, we often use dry needling, active release, and stretching. Recovery usually takes 6–8 weeks.

Ready to Get Back in Motion?

If you’ve suffered a sports injury, don’t wait until it sidelines you for good. With the right diagnosis, treatment, and prevention strategies, you can recover safely and return to doing what you love.

At Back In Motion Physical Therapy & Performance, our team specializes in helping athletes and active adults overcome injuries and get back to peak performance. We’ll create a personalized plan that addresses the root cause—not just the symptoms.

We proudly serve Fort Myers, FL and Cape Coral, FL.

Call today to schedule your appointment and take the first step toward a safe, lasting recovery.