How Sports Can Affect Your Spine And How To Prevent Damage

A large percentage of people suffer from spinal injuries or anything related to that at some point in their lives. Low back pain, for instance, is one of the most common problems even for those working in offices. Sitting down the whole day might have a huge impact on your spine’s formation. Perhaps, people who are more likely to end up with spinal issues are those who engage in sports. 

Of course, sporting is a recreational activity in which people of all ages take part. Others consider it a profession, and a risky tackle in the game could hinder their careers. For one, treating spinal cord injuries is still one of the trickiest ideas in the healthcare industry. Fortunately, there are some positive advancements in the search for the spine’s regenerative medicine. Inasmuch as there could be a cure for these injuries, it’s still important to learn how you can prevent such fractures. Read on to find out more about this topic.

How Sports May Affect Your Spine

As earlier stated, spinal injury is very common in any sport, from football to athletics, and every player is vulnerable. Unfortunately, many athletes still don’t understand the impact that these games can have on their spine. As such, most of them are always reluctant to seek medical help or adhere to the doctor’s advice as they’re in a hurry to get back on the field. About a fifth of all injuries in sports involve the neck or the lower back.

Here are some of the most popular types you’re likely to come across:

• Muscloligamentous Injuries

Such injuries affect the muscles and ligaments located in or around your spine. They are very common in sports and exhibit similar characteristics as whiplash injuries sustained from a car accident. Muscloligamentous injuries mostly occur when your neck was violently bent or rotated after a high-speed impact.

• Disk Herniation

This damage occurs when one or more spinal discs rupture, causing abnormal pressure to develop inside the spine. Consequently, a small cavity (hernia) develops, which allows fluid and debris to fill the space created by the rupture. With time, the pressure will increase, causing even more discomfort; ultimately, a herniated disk occurs. One thing to note is that this injury can present itself in different ways, such as a radiating pain to the limbs, neck pain, spinal cord injury, or cauda equina syndrome. 

The most common treatment for this injury is surgery, which will help relieve pain and reduce the degree of mobility affected. It may also be necessary to remove the impacted disk altogether in some cases. Of course, your doctor is the best person to determine the most effective course of action when dealing with such a problem. They may recommend non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to help reduce inflammation and the amount of time that it takes for healing to occur. A spinal decompression device, such as a disk splint, may also be an option in cases where surgery isn’t required.

• Neurapraxia

Also referred to as neuralgia, this is a very serious form of muscle injury. It’s typically caused by trauma to the nervous system, or a serious blow to the head, neck, and shoulders. Neurapraxia is characterized by a burning or stinging sensation in the affected area. This feeling can last from just a few seconds to a couple of hours, depending on the severity of the injury and the damaged nerves. However, some people may not experience this symptom at all, which makes it even harder to diagnose the condition. 

Unfortunately, neurapraxia isn’t curable at this point. You can, however, consult your doctor to find out the available forms of treatment that will help reduce the effects. Some of the most common methods used today include neuro-simulation, which uses electrical impulses to train the muscles back to normal. There are other forms of treatments, such as physical therapy and acupuncture, but none have been proven to be effective yet.

Preventing Spinal Damage

As earlier stated, treating spinal injuries can be quite tricky, especially if there are some advanced fractures involved. Although it’s rare, there are cases wherein the victim might suffer permanent damage. This unfortunate scenario will not only affect their career, but also their daily life. So, how can you avoid extreme spine injuries?

1. Warm Up 

One of the biggest mistakes you could do as a sportsperson is join the field of play without stretching your muscles. In every sport, you’ll usually see a player running up and down before joining the rest on the pitch. Well, one of the reasons they do that is to reduce mental tension and keep them ready for the challenge ahead. 

However, the main benefit of warming up is to prepare your body muscles for whatever is to come. As you jog around and stretch, the heart rate increases and raises the intensity of muscle movement. In addition, the blood circulation to crucial parts of the body also increases, making it easier to cope with the physical demands of the game. 

2. Strengthen Your Core

Gentle pre-match exercises might be crucial, but you also need to train your spine to sustain tough challenges. Like any other part of the body, back muscles need to be strengthened for them to protect your spine. One of the most popular back strengthening exercises is known as the Kegel exercise, which involves holding onto your pubic bone for ten seconds before you can move it forward. You can use your other hand to hold onto the wall. Doing this regularly will strengthen and tone up your lower back muscles.

Crunches and Pilates exercises may also be immensely helpful in that regard. In addition, you should try doing yoga to further keep your body fit. These are exercises that people tend to skip, but they’re extremely important even for those who don’t engage in sports.

1. Wear Protective Equipment

Some games, like golf, may not require too many protective equipment, but they’re a must for high-contact sports. Today’s padding provides the much-needed protection for your back and any muscles found around the spine. 

Conclusion

In sports, your body is your main tool, and you should take care of it. Protect yourself from any severe injuries by wearing the required protective equipment and exercising your spine muscles so that they can sustain vigorous activities during the game. Injuries such as neurapraxia and disk herniation can be very dangerous to your mobility. Therefore, keep yourself safe, and don’t hesitate to talk to an expert in case of anything.