They are contusions, sprains, and strains. A contusion , the most frequent sports injury, may be defined as a bruise received because of a sudden traumatic blow to the body. Initial treatment to a contusion should be ice, compression, elevation, anti-inflammatory drugs, if desired, and gentle stretching exercises. Ice should be applies for 20 to 30 minutes up to every two hours for pain and inflammation. Compression, if appropriate to the area, should be applied to help reduce swelling.
Elevation helps to reduce swelling to the injured area.
Gentle stretching is appropriate to keep range of motion to the injured body part. These stretches should be held for about ten seconds and may be repeated two to three times and should not cause pain. A sprain is one of the most common and disabling injuries seen in sports. A traumatic joint twist that results in stretching or total tearing of the stabilizing connective tissue. There is injury to ligaments and to the articular cartilage and synovial membrane.