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, the last thing you need in life is to get hit in the balls by a squash ball going 125mph! 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, as you might want to practice holding your breath before you join an underwater hockey league!
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.
Squash
Squash has been around – in one form or another – since the 19th century. What separates squash from other racquet sports is the ball action. It is heavy and smaller, and because of this it does not have the bounce and range that a racquetball ball has. This does not make the game easier, as players often work much harder to get to the ball, and rallies are longer due to the front wall rule. And did we mention the ball hurts like a bastard if it hits you at high speeds? Well, it does. So make sure you were eye protection. The more common and serious injuries for this sport tend to come in the form of ball and racquet strikes, which usually involve high speeds and your head or eyes. Injuries relating to muscle sprains are not as frequent, probably because squash requires a higher level of physical fitness than some other racquet sports.
How to avoid it & what to do if it happens
The best way to avoid serious injury to your head or eyes is by not getting struck in the first place. Many top-name squash players have had career ending injuries, not to mention countless amateurs. Knowing your position on the court is crucial, as inexperienced tend to get clipped by being in the way. Fatigue and dehydration can also lead to sloppy errors, which then lead to injury. If you do get struck in the head, get help immediately. A concussion does not always reveal itself immediately, and eye injuries can go from bad to worse in a heartbeat.
Tennis
Tennis is one of those games that everyone feels that they can play, regardless of their current physical condition. The good news is you are all correct. It is relatively low impact, and if you play against someone who is a lot better than you are, chances are you won’t get the opportunity to strain yourself. That being said, tennis elbow is the most common injury for the average and professional player. Why? Because you are overextending your elbow, and that is a motion that is not natural for your arm. Other injuries can occur in the knees, particularly if you lose traction with frequent stopping and turning.
How to avoid it & what to do if it happens
Tennis elbow is a very painful injury, and it is the kind of injury that will recur over, and over again – like carpal tunnel syndrome. In addition to warming up and stretching, you can also take the time to bandage your arm with a tensor bandage. If this is a chronic injury, go to a specialty fitness store and get a high quality brace that is custom made to fit your arm. Rest is about the only thing that will help your elbow recover, so you might want to try switching from a rightie to a leftie while the bad arm heals.
Underwater Hockey
If you have never heard of this sport, then you haven’t been paying attention. Those that play it claim it is one of the best workouts you will ever get. Since you are in the pool the entire time, you don’t sweat or tire as easily as you would on the ice. Plus, the cardio benefits from diving and swimming are amazing. Yes, it is played underwater, using a tiny stick, a heavy puck, snorkel, mask, and a glove. It is a non-contact sport, but injuries still occur. The most common of which is the hand injury, which can come from puck or stick contact.
How to avoid it & what to do if it happens
Since injuries in this sport occur from various forms of contact, you need to understand the flow of the game so you are not unintentional hit in the hand, head or mouth. Players are always supposed to play the puck, not the player. Switching your stick from hand to hand is also not recommended, as players only have one hand protected at all times. Foucault you do get a laceration, you have to exit the pool immediately. Blood in the water is an automatic stoppage of the game, due to numerous health reasons. This means you can’t go back into the water with an open cut or stitches, so you will be sitting things out on the sidelines until you heal.
Stay tuned for more ways to fight common sports injuries!
