Sportverletzungen – Möglichkeiten und Grenzen der konservativen Therapie

Abstract

Germans have an above average participation in sports in a European comparison and sustain approximately 2 million sports-related injuries per year. Professional athletes sustain injuries much more often than amateur athletes. The most common injuries in sports are muscular injuries, especially injuries of the ischiocrural muscles. Treatment of these injuries is the domain of conservative treatment using a variety of methods. The most common treatment modalities are presented and analyzed with respect to their evidence base. Despite extensive use of the measures recommended for conservative management, especially in professional sports, not all treatment modalities are evidence-based and potentially associated with significant risks. In addition, there are limits to conservative treatment, which justify surgical treatment of muscle injuries. Apart from impending compartment syndromes, which must be treated only by surgery, the indications for surgery in muscle injuries should be reserved for difficult cases and after careful consideration. Even initial attempts at conservative treatment have demonstrated good results after protracted care. Particular examples exist within professional soccer at the Champions League level, demonstrating that conservative management of grade III ruptures of the hamstring close to the attachment point enables a return to competition.