Millions of people around the world enjoy playing sports. Whether you are a professional athlete or someone who plays recreationally, there are many benefits you can gain from participating in sports. However, one downside to sports is that they can often cause pain. This article will discuss the common types of pain associated with sports and how to prevent and treat them.
Types of Pain Commonly Caused by Sports
Many types of pain can be caused by playing sports. Here are the most common ones.
Muscle Soreness
The most common type of pain is muscle soreness, often caused by overuse or repetitive motion. This pain is typically not serious and will go away on its own with rest.
Tendonitis
Tendonitis is an inflammation of the tendons, which are the tissues that connect muscles to bones. It is often caused by overuse or repetitive motion. The most common type of tendonitis is Achilles tendonitis, which affects the tendon that connects the calf muscle to the heel bone.
Bursitis
Bursitis is an inflammation of the small bursae, causing joint pain. Bursae are fluid-filled sacs that cushion and lubricate the joints. Inflammation is often caused by overuse, repetitive motion, improper form, joint impact, or a previous injury. The most common type of bursitis is shoulder bursitis, which affects the bursa in the shoulder joint. That is common among swimmers and pitchers. Hip pain can occur in any athlete but is especially common in runners. Knee and ankle pain is also common for athletes, especially runners. Wrist and hand pain often plague tennis players and golfers.
Back Pain
Back pain is a common problem for athletes, especially those participating in contact sports such as football or hockey. It can also be caused by overuse, improper form, or a previous injury. It can result in a dull ache or a sharp pain.
Shin Splints
Shin splints refer to pain in the lower leg, typically around the shin bone. This pain is often caused by overuse, repetitive motion, or impact on the shin bone. Shin splints can be very painful and result in swelling, bruising, and difficulty walking.
Sprains and Strains
Sprains and strains are common injuries that can occur in any athlete. A sprain is a stretching or tearing of the ligaments, which are the tissues that connect bones. A strain is a stretching or tearing of the muscles or tendons. Both injuries can develop from overuse, improper form, and impact.
Fractures
A fracture is a break in the bone. Fractures can be due to impact, overuse, or repetitive motion. They can also occur due to a previous injury that has not healed properly. A stress fracture is a type of fracture that occurs when repetitive stress overloads the bone, such as in running. This type of fracture is common in long-distance runners.
How to Prevent Pain from Sports
You can do several things to prevent pain from occurring with sports. The best way is to ensure that you warm up properly and stretch before participating in any sport or physical activity. Warming up slowly increases your heart rate. Stretching helps loosen your muscles and prepares your body for the activity. That will reduce your risk of injuries and pain.
Using the proper form when participating in any sport or physical activity is also vital. That will help prevent overuse injuries. If you are unsure of the proper form, seek out a coach or trainer who can help you.
Another way to prevent pain is to cross-train. That means participating in different sports or activities. Doing so will help reduce the risk of overuse injuries by giving your different body parts a chance to rest and recover between workouts.
Finally, be sure to listen to your body. If you are in pain, stop the activity and rest. Participating in an activity while in pain can worsen the injury and lead to further pain.
Treatment Options for Pain from Sports
There are several things you can do to treat pain from sports. If you have a mild injury, such as a sprain or strain, you can treat it at home with rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE).
You may need to see a doctor or other medical professional for more severe injuries. For instance, a chiropractor will be especially helpful for both acute and chronic pain from sports.
They will likely prescribe medication or natural remedies to help relieve the pain. They may also recommend physical therapy to help you recover from the injury.
Sports Should Make You Healthy: Prevent and Treat Injury and Pain
Prevention and treatment of pain from sports are important for all athletes. You can stay healthy and improve your performance by taking measures to prevent pain and injuries. If you experience pain, seek treatment so you can get back to doing what you love as soon as possible.
