There are many injuries that amateurs are prone to get on the sport field, but fortunately many of them we can prevent and they are not as hard as it may seem at the first look. Let us see some of them.
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One of the most common amateur sport injuries is so called "tennis elbow". Tennis elbow can be caused by playing tennis, hence the name, but it can also occur as a result of a number of other activities like playing golf, using scissors, gardening, swimming, manual work, typing on the computer keyboard, and of course as a result of some other racquet sport. That is a painful condition that occurs as a result of overuse of the muscles and tendons of the forearm and around the elbow joint.
The main symptom of tennis elbow is pain caused by inflammation on the outside of the elbow, but sometimes symptoms can occur on the inner side of the elbow too (that "inner condition" is called golfer's elbow). In the most cases tennis elbow occurs in adults between 30 and 50 years of age, and the estimation is that 5 in 1,000 adults are affected by the painful elbow.
Fortunately, almost always the symptoms will disappear no matter whether the patient receives treatment or not. So, the treatment include rest, anti-inflammatory painkillers or cortisone injection, a rarely a surgery may be needed. However, if your elbow is hot when you touch it, if it looks deformed or you have a fever - see the doctor immediately. If you just feel the pain without those symptoms you may rest for a week and if the pain is still there then visit your doctor.
"Trigger Finger" is a condition when fingers or thumbs are "locked", most often in a bent position. It happens when tendons, a band of connective tissue that connects muscle to bone, thickens because of inflammation or some reason. That in turn pulls the finger toward the palm, creating a very painful condition. For example, a long use of power tools, playing golf, working at the factory or playing an instrument, those are all situation that can cause tendon inflammation. However, in some cases the cause of the inflammation can't be found.
If you can stretch the finger with a mild pain then take a rest for a few days and visit the doctor if the pain is still present. If you can't stretch the finger because of great pain visit the doctor without the delay. Sometimes the doctor will inject a corticosteroid and is some cases a surgery is needed. This is a very short and easy procedure for the patient. The surgery widens the space in which tendon can slide more easily. Recovery is completed in a few weeks.
If you play basketball then you know what "knee pain" is. You are running, approaching the basket very fast, great jump in the air, the ball's in and - you touch the ground with a terrible pain in your knee. You won't be playing basketball for some time.
There are two main causes for this and you are responsible for both of them. First, the muscles around you knee are too weak so tendons and bones must absorb all impacts and your body weight. That may lead to knee bone fracture which means you won't be walking for some time. Second, you need warm-up before playing so that your muscles have enough time to prepare for serious stress.
You can help yourself at home with resting and avoid activities that put pressure on your legs. You can a apply ice, keep your knee elevated as much as possible to prevent the swelling down, gently compress the knee by wearing an elastic sleeve, and sleep with a pillow underneath the affected knee. If the pain doesn't stop and you can't walk normally the third day, it's time for a doctor. The surgery is needed in a very small number of cases.
The fracture of the hamate bone is something that every golfer can expect. The hamate bone is a small bone in the wrist which holds enormous pressure while golfer hits the ball with the wood. It may also happen in sports involving a racquet, bat or club. The pain is not so strong so most patients seek doctor help after weeks and even months.
The fracture of the hamate bone was treated with lower arm immobilization for a month and a half, but surgery gives much better results. Two type of surgery can help and both of them are not hard procedures and the function of the hand can be regained without much complications.
All those injuries are very common in amateurs who enjoy sport. So, what can be done to prevent them? The answer is simple: warm up before going out in the field and stop if you feel the pain. The most common mistake amateurs made is to treat themselves as professionals - this is very dangerous.
Every sign of pain is s signal that the rest is needed. And remember: your health is the top priority, beating your opponent is a distant second.