Different sports and activities come with varying risks of injury, but there are common occurrences among athletes. Most sports injuries manifest as some sort of traumatic injury, like a torn ligament, a sprain, or a broken bone. Even more minor things like collisions and falls can cause the spine to be knocked out of alignment, leading to stress and pain in joints, muscles, nerves, discs, and ligaments. You may not notice big issues with these things, but as they build up, they can put your body at risk for even more injury as they leave you vulnerable to further misalignment. The primary goal of most athletes is to prevent these types of issues from happening in the first place, often by doing things such as stretching and staying hydrated which allow the body to better acclimate to vigorous movement. All athletes should go the extra mile to ensure they do not suffer injuries and risk their ability to play and compete.