Sports Musculoskeletal Injuries: A Material Science Problem

Understanding Injuries and Their Causes

Injuries are a common challenge for athletes and active individuals, and understanding their root causes is key to prevention. According to the International Classification of External Causes of Injuries (ICECI), an injury is defined as a bodily lesion resulting from acute overexposure to various forms of energy—whether mechanical, thermal, electrical, or chemical—that exceed the body’s physiological tolerance. This definition emphasizes that injuries often stem from sudden overloads on the body’s systems.

In materials science, the concept of fatigue—structural damage from repeated stress—mirrors what happens in the human body. Just like materials, our muscles and bones endure repetitive loads. When these stresses exceed the body’s endurance over time, damage accumulates, eventually leading to failure in the form of injury.

Common causes of musculoskeletal injuries include:

• Cumulative structural fatigue due to inefficient technique or reduced technical capacity from fatigue.
• Poorly managed training that leads to the progressive accumulation of damage.
• Regional injuries that weaken structural integrity.
• Sudden extreme loads placed on the body.

Preventing injuries requires proper training management, efficient technique, and recovery periods to avoid overloading the body’s systems. This balance ensures that structural fatigue doesn’t lead to injury, keeping athletes performing at their best