Prevent and Treat those Frustrating Sports Injuries - Fitness Friday #72.

Prevent and Treat those Frustrating Sports Injuries - Fitness Friday #72.

Hi, I’m Mel Sole, Director of Instruction at the Mel Sole Golf School, headquartered at Pawleys Plantation Golf and Country Club in Pawleys Island, SC.  We conduct 1, 2, and 3-day golf schools, hourly golf lessons, and senior golf schools—any golf instruction program your heart desires. Give us a call at 800-624-4653 or 843-237-4993.  We will be happy to book a commuter school or a package that contains accommodations, golf, and golf school.

Golf Blog by the Mel Sole Golf School.

Sports injuries are part of playing a sport.  However, understanding what steps to take to minimize those injuries will go a long way to making your sport of choice more fun in the long run.  Golf is no exception to this.  As you can see from the table below, golf is 20th in the category of "Most Injurious Sports."  Reading this article by Collins Place Physio helps bring more awareness to the possibilities of injury.  This, in turn, helps prevent further injuries with better training and knowledge.

How To Prevent and Treat Those Frustrating Sports Injuries.

Yesterday, after a long day of treating patients I went out for an evening run. A 5 km jog around the neighbourhood that not only keeps me in shape but clears my mind. A block before turning into my street, the tip of my running shoe caught on a loose cobblestone. I was forced into an ungraceful commando roll on the sidewalk.

The cost of my stumble: a sprained ankle, a scraped and bloody right knee, a black-blue bruise on one of my elbows and a nasty headache.

After years of running, spills like these have now occurred two times too many.

Every time an athlete gears up and takes to the field, pitch, pool, pavilion, park, court or precinct, they are signing a contract with destiny. A liability waiver stating that they will not sue their deity of choice when something goes wrong.

There is always a level of risk, no matter what your preferred choice of the sport might be. Having looked after the Australian judo team for a number of years some it obvious that some sports are inherently more risky than others.

Finally, no matter what you do from a competitive or fitness perspective, there is a risk you will get hurt.

Sports Injuries Will Happen.

Sports are a fantastic thing.  AFL, cricket, football/soccer, rugby union and league, martial arts, athletics, triathlon and many other sports promote health, fitness, competition, friendship, and courage. As before, each sport has its own level of risk.

Recently, professional sport-related risks have made headlines. In 2016, the US Federal Appeals Court ruled in favour of the National Football League’s $765 million settlement – a ruling that covered over 20 thousand retired players.

An injury is not a question of if but when it will happen. Getting hurt is an eventuality you simply can’t always prevent.

You will be betrayed, by either your own body or by fate (a random injury caused by someone else, etc.).

Which Sports Generate The Most Injuries?

As if you need further proof, here’s a list of the top sports worldwide with professional and recorded injuries. I like to highlight those last two words, “professional” and “recorded” to emphasize the fact that these stats don’t take into account amateurs or those individuals who decided to self-treat and not report their accident.

Sports Injuries.

20. Golf: 33,101 injuries
21. Martial Arts: 34,395 injuries
22. Gymnastics: 36,001 injuries
23. Cheerleading: 36,311 injuries
24. Snowboarding: 38,630 injuries
25. Wrestling: 42,633 injuries
26. Volleyball: 50,845 injuries
27. Horseback riding: 54,609 injuries
28. Roller Skating: 57,743 injuries
29. Fishing: 70,541 injuries
30. Softball: 100,010 injuries
31. Weightlifting: 110,188 injuries
32. Skateboarding: 120,424 injuries
33. Baseball: 143,784 injuries
34. Swimming: 184,190 injuries
35. Soccer: 229,088 injuries
36. Exercise: 365,797 injuries
37. Football: 420,582 injuries
38. Bicycle Riding: 521,578 injuries
39. Basketball: 533,509 injuries

Interesting fact that rollerskating has MORE injuries than wrestling! How is that possible? It would appear professional roller skaters are rather aggressive.

What Are The Most Common Sports Injuries?

Let’s talk anatomy. As weekend warriors, we are always in the thick of it – in the muck of our sweat, blood, and tears. We like to say things like:

• “No pain, no gain!”
• “Risk nothing, win nothing!”
• “I’ll sleep when I’m dead!”
• “Ooh, that looks nasty!”

Still, there are certain variables that are unavoidable, injuries and calamities that come out of the blue that you simply can’t prevent.

Nonetheless, unless someone put a curse on you – lighting hits runner TWICE -, there are certain injuries related to sports that are foreseeable and to a large extent preventable.

Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis)

This is a common injury that usually heals with early treatment. It is a pain focused on the outside your elbow, at the point where your forearm and your elbow meet. The repetitive motion of your arm can create small micro tears/degeneration in the tendons which attach the muscles to the bone. This can lead to inflammation and might, if not treated properly, become chronic. Tennis elbow affects up to 3% of the population.

Interestingly enough, although it is called “Tennis Elbow” less than 5% of those diagnosed with the condition play the sport. It’s seen in sports where gripping of racquets and bats and is also seen in the workplace with too much mouse use.  

Patellofemoral Syndrome

This is one of the most common of knee related injuries. The patellofemoral joint is the joint between the patella (kneecap) and the femur (thigh bone). This injury presents as a general pain or ache at the front of the knee/underneath the patella. Sometimes referred to as “runner’s knee”, this injury is most common in runners or people who play a sport which involves running.

The pain tends to increase when you run, walk up or down stairs, or sit for long periods at a time. Poor biomechanics (movement patterns) are generally the underlying cause, particularly poor pelvic/hip stability (read weak glutes and core) and foot over-pronation. Patellofemoral pain can also be seen when there is muscle imbalance, following injury or after knee surgery.

In conclusion, a thorough biomechanical assessment and subsequent stretching/strengthening programme are the best way to treat this ailment. Taping techniques can be utilised to improve mechanics at the patellofemoral joint, thereby decreasing the inflammation and pain and can allow an earlier return to activity.

To read more on this educational article, go here!

Source: Collins Place Physio.   Mel Sole Golf School

Thanks for reading - Prevent and Treat those Frustrating Sports Injuries - Fitness Friday #72.

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