A balanced diet and physical fitness are the basic components of a healthy lifestyle. Playing some kind of sport is also a good way to remain fit and healthy. However, as Los Angeles spine surgeons will tell you, there are many injuries and pain which are specifically related to sports. However, it is possible for anyone to play sports, even if they suffer from some kind of back pain. To do so, it is important to be aware of the numerous strains caused by different sports and your own back as well.
Three specific injuries related to sports have been discussed below to help you avoid them.
Injury in the Lower Back
When you play any sort of sport, the place that experiences most of the strain is the lower back. Thus, it is more common to notice back injuries in the lower back.
- Running, cycling, etc. leave a continuous impact on the lower back.
- Sports that involve a twisting motion like golf and baseball can also strain the lower back.
- Lower back is also affected by weightlifting and other sports which involve lifting weights.
Injury in the Neck
Cervical spine (neck) is at the greatest risk of getting hurt during games like football as it involves direct contact.
Injury in the Upper Back
The middle portion of the spine, also known as the thoracic spine is at the least risk of getting hurt. It is because compared to the lower back, it involves less movement and it also has enough support.
Nonetheless, the upper back is always in the danger of getting rare but serious injuries like a fracture in the ribs.
According to the spine surgeons in Los Angeles, there is the risk of intercostals neuralgia and there can also be an intercostals muscle strain. It occurs because of the rotating motion of the upper portion or the torso. Sports that may cause it are:
- Swimming
- Golf
- Rotating weight training
- Tennis
- Skiing, etc.
Precautions:
To prevent these injuries, the spine surgeons recommend a complete warm-up before playing any sport. A good warm-up should be focused on the back as well as targeting the muscle involved in that sport. A comprehensive warm-up consists of training the back for all kinds of strains and stresses involved in that particular sport.
Following points should be the part of any good warm-up:
- Movements that gradually increase the circulation of blood so that the blood flows to the back’s ligaments. Walking, jumping and jogging are good ways to warm up a body.
- Stretching, especially involving the different portions of the back including the hamstrings and quadriceps is also effective.
- Never start sports with rigorous movements. Before starting a sport, it is recommended to practice slower movements of the sport.