Baseball and softball are physically intensive sports. As a player in either of these sports, you have to do a lot of running, throwing, hitting and jumping. This means that you need to be in top physical shape and fitness in order to perform well.
It also means that there is a significant possibility for injuries in baseball and softball. Such injuries may be a result of problems with your physical fitness, such as a pulled muscle or a displaced joint. Or they may be brought on by external falls such as a fall on the field or a collision with another player.
In either case, these injuries may range from mild to very serious. Here is a quick rundown of some of the most common types of injuries and the best ways to adopt and recover from them.
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#1. Shoulder Injuries
This is the most common type of injury for baseball and softball pitchers. The pitchers use their shoulder strength to toss the baseball or softball at great speeds towards the hitter.
The throwing movement involves a rigorous use of the shoulder and arm area, but also includes the neck muscles. The frequent use of these muscles can lead to problems which may eventually evolve into serious injuries.
A common form of shoulder injury among pitchers is shoulder tendinitis. Tendinitis is a result of inflammation of the shoulder tendons and can lead to severe pain. The pain may limit your ability to play at a game, so it is important that you consult a doctor as soon as you experience tendinitis.
Another frequent type of injury in the shoulder area is diagnosed as frozen shoulder. The causes of a frozen shoulder are somewhat unclear but it is often experienced by the pitchers.
A frozen shoulder, as the name suggests, restricts you from using the full movement of the shoulder and causes pain in the shoulder area. The good news is that in most cases, you can recover from this form of injury through pain relief medicine and physical therapy.
However, it is of utmost importance that you stop playing and fully recover from this condition before you return to practice.
A more serious form of shoulder injury is a dislocated shoulder. Such an injury is nearly always a result of something more immediate, like a collision or a fall. It is immediately followed by a sharp pain and an inability to return your arm to its fully normal position at rest.
In this case, you need professional medical help to restore the shoulder joint to its normal position and then undergo treatment to heal the area and its symptoms.
Elbow Injuries
The elbow joint is one of the most used joints during baseball and softball games. So it is understandable that elbow injuries are quite common among baseball and softball players. Like shoulder injuries, these can range from mild to serious.
One of the most common elbow injuries is the ulnar collateral ligament injury. This injury is a result of overstressing the inner side of the elbow joint.
The overstressing usually comes about when pitchers pitch too often without taking adequate breaks in between.
The injury is a major problem for pitchers because in many cases, it requires surgical treatment. And the post-surgery recovery can take more than a year.
The best way to avoid such a mishap is to pay immediate attention to any pain or discomfort in the elbow area. Consult a professional specialist and have it looked to before it gets any serious.
Another common elbow injury is tennis elbow. Despite the name, such an injury is often experienced by baseball and softball players as well.
It is usually a direct consequence of using your arm and forearm muscles too rigorously and frequently. The symptoms include a pain on the outside of the elbow.
As the pain progresses, it may make it harder for you to lift any objects. It is prudent that you should immediate stop any rigorous physical activity as soon as you experience the tennis elbow. Use rest and basic physical therapy to let the problem go away.
If it persists, you should see a physician and find out options regarding treatment. Yet, the basic rule-of-thumb is that the more serious the injury, the longer it will take for you to recover from it following the right treatment.
3 Great Tips For Practice Well After Recovery
When you have recovered from an injury, your body muscles and tendons are still weak. They are going to get strong but it will take time and the process will be gradual. So you should take it slow and start with a little practice. Then gradually build up on it. If you experience any discomfort or pain, immediately cut back on the practice and let your body get used to it. Here are some great tips to make sure you are able to practice well after recover.
#1. Play at different positions
This is important not just after recovery but in general as well. When you play at different positions, you make use of different body muscles. This makes sure that a given muscle is not overused or overstressed. This is especially important after you have recovered from an injury. Make sure you work different muscles during different periods of recovery.
#2. Use proper techniques
There is a proper way of doing something and then there’s an improper way. The proper way often requires more practice and patience, but it also ensures that you don’t get injured. So make sure you invest some time in seeking professional advice and mastering the proper techniques when it comes to pitching, hitting, throwing and running.
#3. Do not ignore pain
Pain is generally the first symptom that a given muscle or area in your body needs relief. In most cases, if you immediately attend to the pain, you are able to avoid any serious injury. So make sure you don’t ignore the pain. As soon as you experience pain in any area of your body during playing, consult a professional physician and have it looked to. It will only be to your benefit in the long-term.
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