Every sport brings with it wear and tear, and extra stress, on a particular body part. If you know what to expect going in, then you might be able to avoid these injuries. After all, why screw up your summer by twisting a knee when you enter a friendly kickboxing tournament? This article will list 3 sports that guys like to play and the most common injury associated with each one. We will tell you what you can do to avoid it, and how to overcome it if you get it. So keep reading before you start playing, because nobody wants to break an ankle after delivering a Chuck Norris style roundhouse to the head!
Things To Remember
Before we begin, keep in mind that no matter what sport it is that you like to play, warming up and stretching before and stretching and cooling down after are the two general rules to prevent most (if not all) common sports injuries. This becomes more relevant as you enter your 20s, and only becomes more of a factor with each passing year. That being said, no matter what age you are, injuries can occur. Even though a younger body has tendency to bounce back a lot quicker, chronic injuries start when you are young and get progressively worse (or they tend to reoccur more frequently) as you age. There are also injuries specific to certain sports that get worse the longer you partake in a sport, but we will discuss these problems when we discuss the sport.
Kickboxing
Maybe you have been watching a few to many action movies, or maybe you just want to learn something useful in the gym, rather than pedal for an hour on a stationary bike. Whatever your reasons, kickboxing is one hell of a workout. Most cities offer everything from small clubs and tournaments to gyms that feature kickboxing-style aerobics. Rather than fight with your fists, like traditional hands-only boxing, kickboxing also uses the legs to deliver deadly blows. Striking your opponent as hard as possible with your foot is the goal, and roundhouse kicks to the head are frequent. Common injuries tend to occur more as a result of the hyper-flexing of the knees and elbows, rather than landing a blow to the head.
How To Avoid It & What To Do If It Happens
Knowing what you are doing is probably the best advice you can take when you start learning kickboxing. Plus, taking is as slowly as possible in the early stages can help you to avoid a serious injury early on. This means avoiding amateur bouts and gyms where ‘real’ kickboxing is happening, and starting off with group training at a local health club. Don’t go for the fully extended killer kicks right at the outset. Instead, practice the moves slowly, without locking your knees and elbows as you learn. That will force you to take smaller kicks and punches, allowing your body time to change. If you do strain a knee or elbow early, stop immediately and avoid working that part of your body until you have healed.
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a wicked combination of hockey, soccer and basketball, with a little bit of running and shoving thrown in for good measure. It involves some serious endurance, as players must run around a field and hurl a hard rubber ball at each other. Back in the good old days, Native Americans would play this sport as a way to show their manhood. The rough play of the sport often resulted in broken legs and limbs, which could lead to death giving the time period. Nowadays, players have protective gear to prevent serious injury, but injuries still occur; the most common being shoulder related. Since players are required to hold the stick (crosse) up high, while running, turning, falling and throwing, the repetitive nature of these actions coupled with rough game play causes tremendous stress on the shoulder.
How To Avoid It & What To Do If It Happens
Practicing for Lacrosse can cause more harm than good, if you hyperextend the shoulder. Plus, repetitive practice that requires continuous strain on the shoulder can also lead to problems; so make sure you avoid lengthy practice sessions involving target practice. Building up your shoulder muscles and flexibility are the best ways to prevent an injury. If you do injure yourself, be prepared for a lengthy recovery period. Shoulder injuries are especially painful and slow to heal, as our shoulders bear the brunt of the weight and motion of the arm during any activity. When you start to exercise to recover from a shoulder injury, be careful not to push yourself so that you are in pain. Only work the shoulder to a point just before pain starts, which will allow your shoulder to recover without re-injury.
Mountain Biking
Mountain biking is all the rage these days, and practically everyone owns a bike. The problem is that most of us fail to get properly fitted for a bike, which is as important as getting fitted for any sports equipment you might buy. Bodies come in different shapes and sizes, which means you need to find a bike that best suits your weight, height and fitness level. Buying a bike ‘off the rack’ is common, and it also leads to common injuries. Overuse is frequent amongst new riders, which only exacerbates a fitting-related injury. Everything from a bad bike seat to a frame that is too short can lead to worse injuries if frequent use is involved.
How To Avoid It & What To Do If It Happens
In addition to getting fitted for the proper bike for your body, bike-related injuries are most common in the wrists – due to falling, and the impact and constant jarring over rough terrain; shoulder injuries – for the same reasons the wrists take a beating; head injuries – as a result of wearing no helmet or one that is a poor fit; cuts and scrapes – as a result of falling. Your best bet to avoid these injuries is to exercise caution and go to a real bike shop when you are ready to buy your first bike. Plus, get to know the terrain and trail before you start biking.
Stay tuned for more ways to fight common sports injuries!
