Dealing With Sports Injuries? Find the Right Treatment in Singapore

Engaging in sports and exercise have immense benefits for the body. But even the best things for our bodies sometimes have their risks. People get sports injuries while participating in exercises. Sports injuries can be sustained by the bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments or other parts of the body.

These injuries could either occur suddenly (acute injury) or be developed over a long time (chronic).

They can occur if you don’t warm up properly, if you exercise with the wrong form or if you stopped participating in the exercise for a long time.

In this article, we will cover the common types of sports injuries, how to treat them and how they can be prevented.

What are the common types of sports injuries?

There are a variety of sports injuries that can be sustained while engaging in different types of sports. The most common ones include:

Sprains: A sprain is an overstretching or tearing of a ligament. A ligament is a connective tissue connecting two bones at a joint. A ligament that is overstretched or torn will lead to an unstable joint marked by pain and swelling.

Strains: A strain is a pulling or tearing of a tendon or a muscle. A tendon connects a muscle or muscle group to a bone. Another name for a strain is a pulled muscle.

Fractures: A fracture is a break in the bone caused by a sudden force that is more than the density of the bone.

Concussion: A concussion is a brain injury resulting from a heavy blow to the head.

Dislocations: The site of a dislocation is at a joint when a bone is forced out of its connecting socket. It leads to pain, swelling, and weakness.

Bruises: bleeding into the skin caused by a blow to a part of the body.

What are the causes of sports injuries?

Sports injuries have many causes. Some causes are peculiar to the type of movement being performed. Others are more generic. These causes include:

Lack of protective gear or protective gear that is not put on correctly

Wrong shoes for the exercise. They either don’t fit properly or don’t provide enough support.

Not warming up or not warming up properly before the exercise

Doing a severe workout after a long period of rest

Doing an extreme workout such as HIIT and F45 that your body is not used to

Exercising with the wrong physical form

What are the symptoms of sports injuries?

The symptoms of a sports injury may vary depending on the sport being performed. But many common symptoms show that a person could have a sports injury. Some of these common symptoms include:

Pain
Swelling
Bruises
Deformity of a joint or bone
Inability to move the joint
Crackling or popping noises on moving the joint
Inability to bear weight on the hip, leg, or foot
Reduced range of motion
Weakness
Stiffness

Who is more at risk of getting a sports injury?

Children

Children tend to have higher energy levels than adults. Because of this, they can participate in games that could wear them out and still push through. This could lead to them getting injuries due to overuse of their muscles.

Old people

The older you get, the easier it is for your bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and other body parts to get injured. These injuries may take longer to heal because a person is older.

People who are overweight

People who are overweight have extra weight put on their joints during exercise or sports. This stress increases their risk of getting an injury.

History of poorly treated injuries

Mild injuries can lead up to more severe ones if they are not properly taken care of or if they are ignored.

How are sports injuries diagnosed?

The aim of diagnosing a sport injury is to determine the type of injury you have sustained and the bones, muscle groups, ligaments, or tendons affected. Your doctor will follow these three steps to diagnose your sports injury:

Medical history

Your doctor will ask you questions about how you got the injury. The doctor may also ask questions about the exercises you do and how hard they are.

Physical examination

Your doctor will look at the site of your injury, feel it, and may try to move it around to see how it moves or hear the sound it makes when it moves. It is a good way for the doctor to see how the joint moves or to notice if the joint cannot be moved at all.

Imaging tests

After getting an accurate history and the findings from the physical examination, the doctor will ask for imaging tests starting with an X-Ray. Depending on how severe the injury is and the degree of the damage they can see on the X-Ray, they may ask for a CT scan or an MRI.

These three parts of a doctor’s appointment help to give the doctor a total idea of the injury you have sustained and help him prescribe the right management plan for you.

How are sports injuries treated?

For a mild sports injury, your doctor may advise you to use the RICE method. RICE means:

Rest. Avoid using the injured part of the body. Keep it in a comfortable position, at rest at all times.
Ice. Wrap ice in a cloth and apply to the injury for 20 minutes at a time every 2 hours for the first two to three days. Using ice without a cloth could lead to frostbite.
Compression. Wrap the injury with an elastic bandage that goes over and under it. The bandage should be firm.
Elevation. Keep the injury elevated. It should be above heart level at all times.

The RICE method is used for mild strains, sprains or joint injuries. If you don’t feel better in a week or two, visit your doctor.

Check out this article to understand when a minor injury is not minor injury.

More severe injuries would call for a different treatment plan. Some of the treatment modalities this plan could involve are:

Prescription medication for pain and other signs of inflammation
Injections to reduce inflammation
Physical therapy
Immobilisation using a cast, splint or other similar devices
Surgery

How can I avoid getting sports Injuries?

You can avoid getting sports injuries by being careful. Pay attention to your body, and don’t overexert yourself. Practical ways to do this include:

Warm up properly before every exercise. “Cold” muscles overstretch and tear more often than “warm” muscles. Warm-ups can also help prevent sudden muscle cramps.
Cool down after exercising. Stretching and other low-impact exercises such as yoga and pilates, during a warm-up session can be used in a cool down session.
Wear the proper shoes and other protective equipment for your exercise.
Learn the proper posture and form for your exercise and practice it every time.
Start with easy movements, then build up to the more difficult ones slowly.

If you’ve had an injury in the past, allow it to heal entirely before exercising again. When you are ready to start exercising again, you should slowly ease yourself into the routines. Start from the bottom and work your way up. If you have not been exercising in a while, you can try these 10 daily workouts to kickstart your healthy lifestyle.

Sports Injury Treatment: Singapore Prices

Wondering about the cost of sports injury treatment in Singapore? Let’s take a look at the cost breakdown for various treatment options. We’ll explore typical costs for initial consultations, imaging tests like X-rays and MRIs, physiotherapy sessions, and braces. Additionally, we will give you an idea of what to expect in terms of prices for medications, rehabilitation programs, sports massages, and even potential surgical interventions.

Sports Injury Treatment	Average Singapore Medical Cost	What to Expect
Initial Consultation	$80 to $200	When you go see a sports medicine specialist in Singapore, they will review your medical history, do a physical examination, diagnose your injury (possibly with additional tests), and create a treatment plan.
X-rays	$50 to $150 per X-ray	X-rays are one of the preferred imaging tools for sports injuries because they effectively show bone fractures, joint dislocations, and other abnormalities in bones and joints.
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)	$600 to $2000 per scan	MRI scans use powerful but safe magnets and radio waves to create detailed images of soft tissues like muscles, ligaments, and tendons, helping to diagnose sports injuries beyond bones and joints.
Physiotherapy for sports injuries	$80 to $150 per session. Note: The number of sessions required varies based on your injury severity and individual response to treatment.	Physiotherapy utilises targeted exercises, manual therapy techniques, and education to help you recover from sports injuries while regaining your strength and flexibility.
Braces, Splints, and Supports	Basic Braces and Supports: $37 to $112 Compression Garments: $37 to $150 Custom-Fit Braces and Supports: $150 to $600+ Orthopaedic Splints and Orthoses: $75 to $375+ Ankle Braces and Supports: $37 to $150 Shoulder Braces and Supports: $75 to $300+	Your doctor will consider your type of sports injury and its stage of healing when choosing braces, splints, and supports. For instance, a rigid cast might be needed for a fractured bone to ensure complete immobilisation during initial healing, while a hinged brace with adjustable compression might be used later to promote stability and movement as the injury strengthens.
Medications and Medical Supplies	$20 to $100+	See additional details below.
Surgical Intervention	Prices depend on the types of sports injury surgery, hospital fees, and surgeon’s charges.	Surgery for sports injuries includes a wide range of procedure types to repair damaged ligaments, tendons, cartilage, and bone fractures to restore function and stability in the joint.
Rehabilitation and Follow-up Care	$80 to $150 per session. Additional physiotherapy sessions and follow-up consultations are often necessary.	Sports injury rehabilitation is a personalised programme of physiotherapy and exercise therapy designed to optimise healing, regain strength and mobility, and prevent re-injury.
Sports Massage	$80 to $150 per session Prices may vary depending on the duration and clinic.	Sports massage utilises targeted techniques to promote healing, improve flexibility, and reduce muscle soreness and tension associated with sports injuries.

Notes on sports injury medications and medical supplies:

Over-the-counter pain relief: $5 to $15 per bottle/packet (pain relievers, anti-inflammatories)
Topical pain relief: $5 to $20 per tube/container (creams, gels with menthol or capsaicin)
Prescription muscle relaxants: $20 to $50 per prescription (varies by quantity and brand)
Supportive supplies: $5 to $30 (elastic bandages, kinesiology tape, ice/hot packs)
Wound care: $5 to $20 (antiseptics, gauze pads, dressings, tape)
Supportive braces/sleeves: $20 to $200+ (varies by type, brand, quality)
Prescription medications: $10 to $100+ per prescription (depends on specific medication, dosage, brand)

Editor’s Choice

Looking for a sports injury specialist in Singapore? Our top pick is Dr James Tan C.H. at Ray of Health. With over 10 years of experience in sports surgery and exercise medicine, Dr Tan deeply understands the specific demands placed on athletes’ bodies. He is a trusted doctor for the Singapore National Team, the Singapore Premier League, and the Young Lions, which speaks volumes about his expertise. He has developed advanced techniques for treating sports injuries and has expertise that spans both surgical and minimally invasive procedures. Whether you are a serious athlete or just want to know your doctor is the best of the best, look to Dr Tan. Read more on his page on Sports Injury Treatment in Singapore.

Final Thoughts

Sports injuries don’t have to take out the fun or deter you from exercising. Exercising is a good thing, and your body needs it to be strong. We hope all the tips in this article will help you enjoy your workout sessions injury free in the future.

All you have to do is pay attention to your body. Always use proper form while exercising. Don’t skip your warm-up and cool-down workouts. Use the proper shoes and other protective equipment for your exercise.

If you have an injury, see your doctor so they can determine what type of injury it is and prescribe a treatment plan that will work for you.