How to Prevent Orthopedic Injuries

Any activity has the potential to put an individual at risk for orthopedic injuries. Benefits of physical activity can greatly increase your overall health and lessen the risks of developing conditions such as heart disease, osteoporosis and arthritis. However, when any physical activity goes wrong, there can be risks to your health. Most people automatically think of hitting their thumb or getting cut in the hamstring, but other injuries can also occur. This article will focus on major injuries to the hands or wrist. In fact, there are several different types of injuries to the hands that you should be aware of if you are a tennis player, golfer, squash player, football player or any other person engage in a sport that requires twisting or bending of the wrist.

We will focus this article on tennis and squash injuries, because the patterns of injury are very similar. Repetitive motions, poor posture and the use of momentum can all place players at risk for injury. Tennis players can suffer from tennis elbow, a painful irritation of the tendon in the inside of your elbow that can cause immense pain when touched. Repetitive motions on the back of your hand can also cause tennis elbow, also known as ulnar epicondylitis. merely twisting the wrist back and forth or touching the wrist with the back of your hand can cause tennis elbow to develop.

How do these injuries occur?

Tennis elbow and ulnar epicondylitis are conditions that are triggered by repeated stress that does not allow the tendons to rest. epicondylitis is more of a inflammation of the extensor muscles rather than a tendon injury. Elbow injuries are also conditions that are affected by patterns of play that include poor posture and momentum. Certain racquets require you to spin the back of the wrist, causing continuous irritation of the tendons. With these injuries, it is not only the repetitive motions that are at fault, but also the lack of rest that is evident. It is important to finish routines when possible to allow for the most efficient recovery.

Treatment and prevention of tennis elbow and ulnar epicondylitis should begin with regular massage to improve circulation and range of motion. Everyone should also include flexibility in their routines as the ability to move the arm or wrist without shuffling or straining can allow for inflammation to heal. Once the discomfort has been reduced, the patient should use a brace or wrist bandage to help refrain from re-injuring the tendons. Since epicondylitis is usually a chronic condition, patients may find it difficult to avoid tennis elbow altogether. Care should be taken to avoid activities that cause you to twist and extend the wrist, and playing tennis, or racket sports may even aggravate the condition.

Also, applying a routine of stretch and strength exercises can help to prevent long-term pain. Flexibility exercises done before and after routine tennis tennis routines can help to ensure that you do not develop tennis elbow. Other ways to avoid tennis elbow include taking a shower daily and always keeping your tennis racket in the case of tennis matches. Always wear the proper tennis gloves and tennis shoes that are comfortable and allow you freedom of movement. Change the tennis racket between all floors of the house to avoid shared tennis racket bruises and aid in the prevention of tennis elbow.