Sports injury rates could be reduced by 25 percent if all athletes — professionals and amateurs — followed essential safety, conditioning, and preventive strategies.

An inguinal hernia is a bulge that occurs in your groin region, the area between the lower part of your abdomen and your thigh. Inguinal hernias occur because of a weakening of the muscles in the lower abdomen

A lumbar strain is an injury to the lower back, which results in damaged tendons and muscles that spasm and feel sore.

Jumper's knee is also known as patellar tendonitis. It may be caused by overuse of the knee joint, such as frequent jumping on hard surfaces.

Runner's knee occurs when the kneecap rubs against the thighbone as it moves. The condition can be caused by a structural defect or a certain way of walking or running.

Good preventive steps: Warm up before you work out, alternate days for exercising certain muscle groups, and cool down when you're done.

Shin splints involve damage to one of two groups of muscles along the shin bone that cause pain. The location of the shin splint pain depends on which group of muscles is damaged.

Stress fractures are weak spots or small cracks in the bone caused by continuous overuse. They often occur in the foot after training for basketball, running, and other sports.

Many sports injuries can be prevented with proper conditioning and training, wearing appropriate protective gear, and using proper equipment.

Sports injuries can be either acute traumatic, which require immediate medical care, or chronic overuse injuries.