Seeing how the human body is subject to wear and tear, injuries are inevitable for athletes. Injuries are often painful and put you on the sidelines for a considerable period. And you can’t wait to get rid of them, get back to your routine, and crush your goals.
A healthy lifestyle is a sure way to avert many rampant diseases. Healthy eating improves memory, reduces the risk of heart disease and cancer. Exercise also offers fantastic benefits such as reducing the risk of stroke, diabetes, and depression. To get the benefits of exercise, you must put in an average of 150 minutes weekly.
As an athlete, you will regularly put in shifts that exceed that number. But sadly, with intense training, the probability of picking up an injury increases. As an athlete, injuries are a necessary evil that comes from pushing yourself to be better. To improve as an athlete, you must work your muscles, tendon, ligaments, and joints.
What Are Some Common Athletics Injuries?
- Sprains– Sprains occur when there is a tear or stretch in the ligaments. Ligaments are tissues that connect two bones. A wrong turn in the joint or an awkward fall can cause a sprain.
- Pulled Muscle– This happens when a particular muscle is overstretched, causing pain, tear, or damage. A pulled muscle is the most common type of injury, as every exercise relies on the muscles. Proper warmups reduce the possibility of muscle strain.
- Knee Injuries– Knee injuries occur because of a ligament tear, fracture, or dislocation. They can be very painful and might require surgery to correct.
- Back Pain– Athletes go through many rigorous exercises and routines, which could take their toll on the back after a while. A collision in a contact sport could also cause back injury.
- Shin Splints– This is an inflammation of the lower leg muscles that occur due to repeated exercise and use of the leg. It is rampant with footballers, runners, and joggers.
Fastest Ways to Heal From Your Injuries
Athletes can avoid some injuries through warmups, but some are unavoidable and can only be managed. Here are ways to recover faster from injuries.
- Rest With a Supporting Mattress
After any injury, the first thing is to stop and rest. Preferably, lie down to take pressure off the affected area. You will need a comforting mattress to do this. A memory foam mattress absorbs temperature that causes it to sag, often worsening the pain.
In contrast, an air foam mattress is filled with billions of tiny air bubbles that support tender pressure points. A mattress for side sleepers with back pain is essential in helping to reduce pain. It helps reduce the pressure points on the neck and back by aligning the spine, shoulder, and pelvic. This can help you feel more comfortable and rested for the next day.
- Apply Ice
Applying ice to injuries helps reduce the pain and swelling caused by inflammation. You can use an ice pack for 20 minutes on the affected part three to four times a day. Icing helps slow down blood flow to the affected area by constricting the blood vessel.
- Apply Heat
Applying heat comes in when there is stiffness or numbness in a particular area. It is used to stimulate blood flow. Athletes use it as a pre-exercise routine to get the tissues ready. Heat treatment is excellent for old injuries that still hurt: chronic muscle pain and overuse injuries.
- Apply Compression
Compression involves wrapping the pain point with a bandage to reduce swelling. The dressing should not be too tight to restrict blood flow. The aim is to reduce swelling. When there’s numbness or increased pain, that could be a sign the bandage is too tight.
- Elevate the Area
Elevating the injured area helps reduce pain and swelling. For example, you can use a pillow to raise the sore spot. Look to always keep the injured area above the level of your heart.
How Can I Prevent Injuries in the First Place?
- Develop a Specialized Fitness Plan– Having a workout routine helps you stay in shape and work essential parts of your body. Incorporate a fitness plan that emphasizes strength training and flexibility. This way, your muscles, tissues, and ligaments are ready for action.
- Don’t Use Each Muscle Group Each Day– An important tip to avoid injuries is exercising different muscle groups. By introducing varying workout routines, you can work on other muscles each day.
- Have a Cool Down Routine– This is a fantastic way to transition from rigorous activities to your usual activity level. It promotes blood flow and reduces stress to the heart. Examples include jogging, upper body stretch, knee to chest pose, etc.
- Study the Correct Techniques– You must do it right for every sports activity you engage in. That way, you can get the best of the sport and reduce injuries.
- Don’t Over Exercise– Understand your body limit, don’t push yourself more than you can handle. Remember, it is a marathon, not a sprint.
Good as New
There’s only so much preventing you can do, some injuries are inevitable. Instead, focus on recovery strategies like resting. Where you use a mattress to help back pain, applying ice or heat depending on the context, you will be back up in no time.