Athletes are competitive by nature. They want to practice, compete and push themselves to be better. For many athletes, that mindset can also mean trying to ignore pain and “play through it.” But there is an important distinction between normal soreness and pain that could indicate a sports injury, explains Emma Spencer, McLeod Sports Medicine Athletic Trainer.

Knowing when to push through normal discomfort, and when to stop and get checked, can help athletes protect their health while still giving themselves the ability to enjoy the sport they love.

How Can You Tell the Difference Between Soreness and an Injury?

Not every ache after practice means an athlete is injured. Hard training can naturally lead to muscle soreness, particularly after a challenging workout or practice.

One clue is where the discomfort occurs. For example, if an athlete has sore legs after practice, they may feel soreness in both legs. But pain associated with an injury may be more localized, such as pain in one ankle, knee, shoulder or another joint.

Another important factor is how the discomfort changes over time.

“Soreness can build for a couple of days and often peaks around the third day before improving,” Spencer explains. “An athlete may feel increasingly sore, only to wake up on the fourth day feeling significantly better.”

An injury, however, may maintain the same level of pain rather than gradually improving. So, if pain continues for several days without getting better, it is a good idea to have it evaluated.

Don’t Ignore a Concussion

One injury athletes should never try to simply “play through” is a concussion.

“If you get hit in the head and have a headache afterwards, that’s definitely something that you need to reach out to an athletic trainer to get checked out,” Spencer says.

Concussions can have symptoms that aren’t immediately obvious, and athletes should not make the decision on their own to simply continue playing after a potentially significant head injury.

When it comes to a possible concussion, speaking up is more important than trying to stay in the game.

Pain Doesn’t Always Mean Sitting Out

One of the biggest misconceptions athletes may have about reporting an injury is that getting checked automatically means they’re done for the game, or even the season.

Athletes don’t always need to be removed from their sport just because something hurts. Athletic trainers can evaluate an injury and help determine the appropriate next steps.

Athletic trainers help determine what an athlete can safely do. Depending on the injury, an athlete may need to modify practice for a day or two but still be able to compete later in the week. “We have all types of rehabilitation and modality and treatments that we can do behind the scenes that really can get athletes through to the next game,” Spencer says. “The goal is to help athletes stay healthy and participate safely, not unnecessarily keep them on the sidelines.”

Use Your Athletic Trainer as a Resource

For student-athletes an athletic trainer can be one of the most valuable resources available when something doesn’t feel right.

Athletes don’t have to wait until an injury becomes severe before asking for help.

If you’re unsure whether what you’re feeling is normal soreness or an injury, get it checked. An athletic trainer can assess the situation and help determine whether you need to modify your activity, begin rehabilitation or seek additional medical care.

Most importantly, don’t be afraid that reporting pain automatically means you’re finished playing.

Sometimes, getting an injury evaluated early is exactly what allows you to get back on the field, court or playing surface sooner.

 

Learn more about McLeod Health Sports Medicine, including free Saturday injury clinics and sports physicals.