Överanvändningsskador

Överanvändningsskador, or overuse injuries in English, are injuries that occur when an activity is repeated frequently enough to cause damage. They are common in sports, work, and daily life. Unlike acute injuries, which happen suddenly due to a specific event, overuse injuries develop gradually over time.

The underlying cause is often a combination of excessive stress on a body part without sufficient rest and recovery. This can be due to training too much, increasing intensity too quickly, poor technique, or inadequate equipment. The repetitive motion can lead to micro-trauma in muscles, tendons, ligaments, or bones. If the body doesn't have enough time to repair this damage, inflammation and pain develop.

Common symptoms include a dull ache that worsens with activity, tenderness to touch, swelling, and stiffness. Pain might initially disappear with rest but eventually becomes persistent. Examples of overuse injuries include tennis elbow, runner's knee, shin splints, rotator cuff tendonitis, and stress fractures.

Prevention strategies are key. These include gradual progression of activity levels, proper warm-up and cool-down routines, cross-training to avoid stressing the same areas repeatedly, maintaining good physical conditioning, and using appropriate technique and equipment. Rest and adequate recovery periods are crucial for allowing the body to heal and adapt. If an overuse injury is suspected, consulting a healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment is recommended. Treatment often involves rest, ice, compression, elevation, and may include physical therapy or other modalities.