Sports Then and Now

A concussion is a term that you have probably heard in the past. At first it does not seem like something too serious, but a concussion is still a type of brain injury. However, if the damage is not too big, the brain is able to recover itself.

Since many people are not properly informed about concussions, this article will try to provide the basic information about them. After all, concussions are not something that should be ignored, and we should know how to deal with them.

What should you know about concussions?

A concussion is a TBI (traumatic brain injury), which is an injury that happens when an external force harms the brain. However, concussions are not that severe, the brain is usually able to repair itself. Usually concussions happen after a hit to the head, but a sudden movement that makes the brain hit the skull can also cause a concussion.

That is the reasons why concussions happen more often in sports. There is a bigger risk factor there, and not even helmets can protect you from concussions. In fact, helmets are there to make sure that you don’t crack your head.

It is important to be informed about concussions so you will know what to do if you have to handle one. However, the Internet has plenty of information about concussions and traumatic brain injuries, so that should not represent a problem. Read the rest of this entry →

For the most part, college athletes bounce back from physical adversity very well. Muscle pulls and other injuries that might sideline professional players for two or three weeks might keep collegians off the court for a day or two. That’s especially true late in the year when so much is at stake.

But there’s only so much the body can take. Further complicating matters, some teams must fight hard through their entire conference tournament. Then, they have short turnarounds before their first NCAA tournament games.

Wrist Injuries and Basketball

These injuries are serious problems in competitive basketball. Even a lightweight brace often affects a shot. Furthermore, on their drives to the hoop, players want to think about their next move instead of their throbbing wrists.

These players must recover from these injuries just like the rest of us get better. But unlike athletes, office workers and stay-at-home moms alike can usually wear braces that give reliable support for injured wrists. Such support both eases discomfort and helps the injured muscles heal themselves faster.

Rest is often a very good treatment as well. However, for athletes, “rest” is usually a four-letter word. Athletes are notorious for wanting to get back in the game, and win-at-all-costs coaches and trainers sometimes enable that attitude. Read the rest of this entry →

The ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus probably first said that “the only constant in the universe is change.” This phrase definitely applies to sports injuries, at least to some extent.

Some people still remember the 1992 NBA All-Star game which featured the return of Magic Johnson. A few months earlier, he had retired after announcing he was HIV positive. Several other players, including Karl Malone, openly expressed misgivings about Johnson’s return and their own risk of contracting AIDS. We now know these fears were foolish, but they were very real at the time.

Fortunately, deadly sexually-transmitted diseases like AIDS are not a problem on most sports teams. But sports injuries are a constant concern. In some cases, the treatment approach has changed significantly in recent years; in other cases, not so much.

Football and Concussions

Head injuries have been an issue in football ever since William Harvey laced up the cleats for Penn in 1894. “In a scrimmage behind the goal I was knocked insensible, but recovered in about fifteen minutes,” he later wrote. For the next hundred years, every player who received a head injury in football got basically the same treatment: a few plays off, some smelling salts, and a cursory “how many fingers am I holding up” medical exam.

Things began to change in 1994 when then-NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue ordered league doctors and other scientists to examine the problem more closely. Today, no one is really sure how the NFL and other football leagues should handle head injuries. Players want to play, coaches want to win, and fans want to see lots of action, but a player’s long-term health is at stake. There’s a balance there somewhere.

New innovations should help improve treatment protocols. For example, the Food and Drug Administration recently approved a concussion diagnosis blood test. Very soon, this test could eliminate the guesswork involved in this area. Read the rest of this entry →

Participation in sports is a great way to stay active and healthy, promote strong interpersonal relationships, and even develop leadership qualities that last a lifetime. For all the good things sports can provide, though, they do come with their fair share of risks. One of the risks involved in sports is dental injuries such as busted or knocked-out teeth. Avoiding these types of injuries should be an important part of any preparations for those involved in sports, as it can help ensure a lifetime of good oral health.

Practice Well

Sometimes, dental injuries in sports, just like car accidents on the road, are unavoidable. At the same time, just like you can help prevent a car accident by practicing good driving habits, you can give yourself a better chance of avoiding a dental injury by regularly practicing the sport you’re involved in. Solid practice allows better understanding of the fundamentals of the game you’re playing, as well as a higher proficiency in the more technical aspects. Together, this allows you to pay more attention to the players around you, rather than on yourself, aiding you in avoiding collisions that can lead to dental injuries.

Wear the Correct Gear

To be sure, wearing a mouth guard isn’t the most enjoyable experience. At times, it can be big, bulky, and uncomfortable, not to mention feeling totally unnatural. However, as unpleasant as it may be, ensuring you are always wearing your mouth guard is far and away the best method for preventing dental injuries in sports. If this is something you struggle with, it might make sense to make putting in your mouth guard part of your practice regimen, just so it will become an ingrained habit that is unlikely to be broken. That way, when game day arrives, and you’re thinking about a thousand other things, you won’t forget to put that mouth guard back in after every timeout. Read the rest of this entry →

There’s a saying about horseplay that goes, “it’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt.” This also applies to playing sports. While sports injuries can come from a variety of causes, such as an unfortunate collision with another player or a wrong turn of an ankle, they need to be treated as soon as possible. Here are four tips on how to recover quickly from a sports-related injury.

Get Medical Attention Right Away

There’s no sense in delaying things when it comes to a sports injury. Regardless of whether it’s a sprain, a twist, or a broken bone, it needs to be attended to immediately. Issues such as concussions can be especially physical traumatic and need to be dealt with as soon as possible. Even if an injury seems rather benign, it should still be looked over by a professional who can give the best assessment possible.

Relax

Healing is possible following a sports injury, but you need to make sure you give your body time to heal. Whatever part was injured, you need to make sure it’s properly rested. If it needs a cast or a sling, it should stay in there as long as the doctor requires it to. Even if you feel ready to get back into athletics, you should wait until you have the proper medical clearing to do so. Read the rest of this entry →

Athletes face many challenges not only in their sport of choice but also in everyday life. Consequently, these challenges can affect their performance both on and off the field, whether male or female. Therefore, not only do they need the help of their coaches, but also of counselors to help them navigate their everyday lives.

The Role of Coaches

Coaches deal with their players on an everyday basis. Consequently, they play a significant role in their athletes’ lives and spend a lot of time with their players. Coaches are responsible for training athletes on the skills and techniques for the given sport. As such, coaches should be equipped a master’s degree in coaching, and with both leadership and technical skills to manage their athletes’ performance. To ensure they are in the best physical shape, coaches follow up on athletes’ diets, training regimen and general well-being. Coaches should be duly trained on the best knowledge and skills essential for bringing out the best performance in an athlete. A coach should also foster a sense of community, confidence, and teamwork for their team if they are dealing with a team sport.

Individual Sports

Even when dealing with individual sports, the coach is still responsible for ensuring athletes are in the best physical and mental conditions to handle competition. Good coaches contribute to the confidence levels exuded by players both on and off the field. It is, therefore, the responsibility of the coach to ensure he/she has a good working relationship with their athletes. Read the rest of this entry →