Dealing with an ACL

Celebrity Sports Injuries

An ACL is what happens when one tears their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).  This often happens to people engaged in sporting activity.  It can be especially detrimental to those who have made sports their livelihood and career.  That is exactly what happened to Bernard King of the New York Knicks back in 1985.   

As reported in Fitwar, at the time, nearly 30 years ago, it ruined him.  He did come back some years later to his team and came in third in the NBA scoring in 1990-91 with 28.4 points for each game, but it was never the same.  Ultimately it was the ACL which resulted in his early retirement.  He had to have further knee surgery to remove his cartilage as well.

ACL’s Today

Nowadays things are quite different.  Rashean Mathis of the Jacksonville Jaguars recently endured the same injury but he’s doing just fine.  There are so many more rehabilitative options available for him than there were for King.  Thus Mathis is currently working out at his team’s facility.  He said, “'I'm not ready to let go of my guys yet - the locker room, the camaraderie we have.  That is still a part of me. There will be a day where I wash my hands of it and say, 'The Lord has allowed me to do great things,' but that's not there.”   The expectation today is that Mathis will return to football and re-sign with his team even if at some point later on, he moves to a different team.  He does plan on going back to professional football though.  It seems that his fate will be quite different to that of Bernard King a few decades ago.

Cheerleading Injury Prevention Tips

Cheerleaders commonly experience accidents while training and performing.  Many of these injuries can be minimized and prevented with the proper care.  First of all, cheerleaders should limit their stunts.  When doing pyramids, cheerleaders are supposed to adhere to the guidelines of only having two body lengths in high school and 2.5 in college with the base cheerleader in contact with the surface where they are performing. There are other strict guidelines for basket tosses, mat use and other tips that help to prevent injuries.

When training, it’s also important for the cheerleaders to have a qualified coach and to have proper training before trying out any stunts.  Certainly, when training, cheerleaders should use resistance exercises to gain strength, regular stretching, and only returning to play when clearance has been offered by a medical professional.

All of this should help cheerleaders to stay safe and to properly prepare for their performances.

Martial Arts Injury Prevention

Martial arts are a wonderful form of exercise, and it’s also a great way for children to learn discipline.  It comes with potential injuries, however, and it’s important for children and adults alike who do martial arts to be aware of these potential issues.

Common issues with martial arts include concussions, head/eye/ear and nose injuries, neck injuries and injuries to the extremities.

How can these be prevented?  First, before beginning martial arts, you should have a physical exam done to make sure that you are healthy and ready for this sport.  You should learn about the potential risks for the sport before you look into exactly which type of martial arts to do. 

You should always be training and practicing under the supervision of an experienced teacher. Make sure to do your warm-ups and cool-downs properly and to wear the proper equipment. This might include gloves, mouth protection pieces, headgear, padding, etc. 

With these tips, you should be able to keep yourself safe while enjoying your martial arts experience!

Avoiding Baseball Injuries

Baseball can take its toll on your shoulder and elbow.  Injuries in these locations are quite common from overuse and from many other issues.  Most of these injuries, however, are preventable with the correct behavior.

To prevent baseball injuries to the elbow and shoulder, make sure to warm up properly by stretching, running and throwing gradually.  Players should be rotated throughout the game so that the burden isn’t on any one player.  Pitching should be done only in an age-appropriate manner. For instance, a 7-8 year old shouldn’t pitch more than 50 pitches in a game, and a 17-18 year old should max out at 105 pitches. There are even charts for the rest period that pitchers should take between games and the age recommendations for various pitches. Following these can significantly reduce injuries.

Pitchers should not continue if they have elbow or shoulder pain; and, if the pain continues, they should see a doctor.  You should communicate regularly about how your arm is feeling and you should work on developing your skill in an age appropriate manner.

Preventing Soccer Injuries

Soccer is one of the most popular sports in the world – and it’s gathering speed in the United States. How can you prevent sports injuries and ensure safe playing for kids and adults? Here are some key tips to keep you playing soccer and enjoying without injury.

Make sure that your equipment is all well-fitted, including your cleats and shin guards.  Pay attention to the field before you start to play and look for poor conditions, pot holes, etc. Try to play only with fixed goals so that you don’t have accidents with goals falling on players.

Use synthetic balls rather than leather balls, as the leather balls can become waterlogged and be dangerous – especially if you’re heading.

Make sure you stretch before playing and that you avoid overuse. Most injuries happen at the end of games when players are pushing their limits and demanding too much of their bodies. Finally, always stay hydrated and pay attention to the weather conditions before heading out for the game!

Dealing with Shin Splints

People who complain about pain in the shins after intense running, or after doing a lot of exercise when they don’t usually exercise, may find that they have shin splints.  Another word for this is Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome and it is an irritation of the Tibia, or the shin bone.

For runners, this condition comes from over-use or from running on hard surfaces.  There are, of course, other reasons that a person might have shin pain; the most common other reasons include Compartment Syndrome or a Stress Fracture. These conditions require testing and a visit to a sports medicine doctor.

For Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome, a few common treatments to try before seeing a doctor include: ice packs, arch supporting orthotics and shock absorbing insoles. There are a number of other ideas as well. You can use anti-inflammatory gels, wear a compression sleeve to reduce symptoms, or maintain a running log to track progression.

Ski Safety Tips

On the slopes, it's essential to pay attention to these tips so that you won't end up with a ski injury. While people think that skiing is a dangerous sport, most injuries on the slopes are due to situations that could have been avoided.

Taking a few ski lessons can actually reduce your chance of injury by as much as 50%.  Make sure that your boots are fitted perfectly and have them routinely checked. Bindings should also be checked and maintained.

Certainly, you shouldn't find yourself on a slope that is too difficult for your ability level.  Black diamonds, for instance, are only for advanced skiers, and double black diamonds are for truly advanced skiers.

Make sure to be properly warmed up before skiing.  While we all agree that it's important to warm up before exercising, many people forget that skiing is also exercising.  Stretch your hamstrings before you start, get your quadriceps and calf muscles warm and get your heart rate up a bit.

Finally, before getting on the slopes, make sure to have a good breakfast and to take energy snacks with you along the way.  Pay attention as you get tired and give your body the chance to rest when you need to.