Ligament damage can come through many forms of injury, especially in the world of sports. Ligament damage can also be repaired in a number of ways, including lengthy bed rest and surgical reattachment procedures.
One of the most painful sports injuries possible is ligament damage. Ligaments connect bones and keep joints moving in the way that they should while preventing unwanted movement. When ligament damage occurs, there is often a great deal of pain and a limitation of movement.
Ligament damage usually takes the form of a sprain. Most of us have had a sprained ankle when we step down in the wrong way. This would probably be classified as grade one ligament damage. There may be pain upon moving the joint or putting weight on it, but it's not unbearable.
Grade two ligament damage is even more painful and is also characterized by swelling of the affected joint. In this case, the pain is present even when the joint is held completely still.
In grade three ligament damage, the ligament is completely severed. The pain in this case is usually extremely severe, and the joint may not be usable at all. Often, surgery is indicated for repairing this serious type of ligament damage.
The best way to prevent ligament damage is to take care with the way you treat your body. Especially when you are new to a sport, your body needs time to adjust to the actions you're performing. Take ample time to stretch before activities so that your body is loose and ready to move, not stiff and fighting you the whole way.
If you have experienced ligament damage in the past, protect yourself from further damage by wearing a brace on the affected joint. Only participate in activities that have been cleared by your doctor; if you try to go back to running or soccer or other sports too soon, you risk doing even more ligament damage.
Most importantly, follow your doctor's orders and do all of your stretching exercises following ligament injury. This can make all of the difference between a temporary setback and a permanent disability.
