Although it’s not a contact sport like football or hockey, softball can still take a toll on the body for all who play. Like all sports ailments, there are two types of injuries one can sustain by playing softball: overuse injuries, which occur over time due to stress on the muscles, joints, and soft tissues without proper time for healing; and acute or traumatic injuries, which occur due to sudden force or impact, and can be quite dramatic.
Whenever you hurt yourself, whether it’s by burning your hand on the stove, pulling a muscle while exercising or slamming your finger in a door, generally everyone has some method of treatment they prefer. “You should ice that,” some recommend, while others suggest heat.
Tennis balls aren’t the only things that take a pounding on the court. Whether you are a casual weekend player or a serious match competitor, your joints take a pounding, too. Tennis requires almost constant twisting, turning, lunging, quick starts and sudden stops – and that’s during just one game. Imagine the stress and strain joints, ligaments, tendons and muscles undergo during an entire match.
Whether you’re a professional athlete, a marathon runner, or simply someone who enjoys casually playing sports with friends, injury is bound to occur. Often, an athlete’s natural reaction to injury is to “rub some dirt on it”, walk it off and get back in the game. Unfortunately, that instinct to keep going is really not in your best interest. In fact, it can take you out of the game quicker in the long run, if a proper remedy is not utilized.
When one thinks of sports injuries, they generally think of a hard hitting running back, a too-tall-for-his-own-good center, or a rambunctious hockey defense-man. After all, injuries are just part of life when you play a contact sport such as these. However, with any sport come injuries.
As the men’s NCAA basketball tournament progresses, we find ourselves on the edge of our seats, hoping for upsets and praying for good competition. It’s no surprise that basketball is one of the most popular sports in the nation, but with the dramatic finishes and amazing comebacks come injury and defeat. It’s just a part of the game.
All athletes get injured from time to time, and the majority of these injuries are minor and easy to recover from. Once you’ve hurt yourself badly, though, like tearing a ligament, the injury becomes a much more prominent part of your life. Throughout the recovery process, doctors may prescribe a variety of therapies to help you resume your daily activities.
With the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine underway this week, college athletes from across the country gather in Indianapolis to (hopefully) impress NFL scouts, coaches and doctors. Some will shine and better their pick in the NFL draft, while some will fail to make their mark and go undrafted. Talk about an intimidating job interview.
Whether you’re just getting into a new favorite sport or you’ve been playing for years, it’s likely that you’re going to experience some kind of pain throughout your training and playing. Taking care of injuries and keeping your pain at bay is one of the best ways to ensure that your body is in peak physical condition and that you’re operating at the top of your game.
Dr. Carr Vineyard specializes in orthopedic surgery, ankle replacement surgery and foot and ankle disorders. Below he answers questions relating to foot and ankle issues.