Regardless of how old you are, it is important to always look after your body, especially your back. Sporting injuries are actually very common, but fortunately most injuries are minor and people recover quickly. However, sometimes an injury can result in a long-term or even permanent problem.
Taking care of your body is especially important if you are a highly active person. High-intensity workouts can lead to injuries that get progressively worse. Many athletes and sportspersons are forced to retire earlier than planned due to injuries that can often be prevented. Intensive exercise places many strains on the body and, as we get older, the body becomes less equipped to cope; a slower healing process causes small niggling injuries to develop into larger problems.
Many injuries escalate because people chose to ignore the warning signals. For this reason it is very important to learn to listen to your body and also to be able to recognize the difference between muscles aching following exercise and muscles, ligaments and tendons that have been strained.
Sports injuries
It is possible to hurt your back in just about any sport; it is not just adrenaline junkies that are at risk from serious injury. Some of the most dangerous sports in terms of injuries that result in a visit to ER include football, cycling, basketball, baseball, soccer, swimming, trampoline, skating, skateboarding and hockey.
For men, the most common cause of a back injury is football and this is closely followed by wrestling. For women, softball and gymnastics are the most common causes of injuries. Cheerleading is one of the riskiest sports for college girls.
If you think that you have a slight twinge in your back you need to stop exercising and assess the situation immediately. Ignoring a small problem in the early stages can result into a debilitating injury in the future.
Back injuries
There are essentially three types of back injury: neck injuries, lower back injuries and upper back injuries. Many people consider the neck separate from the back but both are part of the spine.
Lower back injuries are most common in sports that result in repetitive strains and impacts on the body. Runners often suffer from lower back problems, as do golfers and weight lifters. The twisting motion of golfers places huge strains on the body. Weightlifters also put their backs under a lot of pressure.
One of the most famous back injuries of a popular sportsperson was that of Bruce Lee. According to legend, he injured his back in a fight. However, he actually damaged his back in the gym while performing a weightlifting exercise called the Good Morning. He ruptured a disk in his back and doctors thought that the injury would prevent him from carrying on as a martial artist, but he was fortunate in that he did make a recovery. However, he experienced chronic pain after the injury.
Neck injuries are most common in combat sports such as football and upper back injuries are seen mostly in golfers, swimmers and tennis players. Injuries are usually caused by rapid rotations.
Healing
Usually healing is a matter of taking adequate rest at first and then slowly rebuilding strength. Regardless of the type of back injury, Sports Medicine Care is a great solution to help speed up healing.
When choosing a chiropractor it is important that they recognize the value of competitive sports. Specialists such as Health Quest Chiropractic will work with their patients and positively encourage them to get back into sports. Athletes who are not encouraged to compete again are at greater risk of retiring early.
Injury prevention is always the best option and this is why it is so important to condition your body for sports. For back pain relief, a combination of weight training and stretching included in your back pain management program helps to developing a stronger back and core that can withstand greater stresses and strains.
Remember, always listen to your body and stop before a minor injury flares up into something that can lead to a chronic condition.