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Overuse Injuries Plague Sportsmen | |
By SPORTS AFIELD Overuse injuries plague sportsmen from tennis players to hunters and fishermen - some easily healed and others more tenacious. Most overuse injuries -whether suffered by a recreational carpenter, a woodpile turner or a weekend athlete -will heal within about a week, Michael Segell wrote in an article in the current issue of Sports Afield, with the help of ice, heat treatments and manipulation. Other injuries, particularly those that develop over a longer time, need more careful attention to prevent them from becoming chronic. Among the common problems: Tendinitis. Many trade workers, from machinists to telephone linemen, and recreational athletes, including racket sports players and golfers, are prone to flexor tendinitis, an inflammation of the tendons that run from the forearm down the wrist and hand to the fingers and flex the fingers toward the palm. When they become irritated, they swell in their sheaths, causing pain, stiffness and, often, difficulty straightening the finger or fingers. In the early stages, ice and rest from the activity that caused the injury usually clear up the problem within three to five days. Ibuprofen or aspirin help reduce swelling and restore mobility. In more severe cases, immobilize the finger in a splint for about a week. Early intervention is key. If allowed to deteriorate, the condition can take a month to clear up. Shinsplints. This refers to three different conditions that can affect the lower leg. The most common is called tibial periostitis and causes pain and tenderness over the bottom half of the lower leg. Discomfort can also be caused when the toes or ankle are bent downward against resistance. The pain usually abates when you are at rest, but returns immediately with running and jumping activities. Long-distance running on hard surfaces, particularly among those who are stepping up the frequency or intensity of their routines, is a common cause. Because tibial periostitis can become chronic and difficult to clear up, it's important to stop the activity that causes pain as soon as it emerges. Use RICE - rest, ice, compression and elevation -for the first two or three days, and heat thereafter. Don't resume running until there is absolutely no pain on the inner side of the lower leg. If symptoms persist longer than two weeks, see a doctor. Tennis elbow. Like shinsplints, this refers to several painful conditions affecting the inner and outer sides of the elbow. It afflicts all types of athletes and laborers, particularly carpenters. Lateral tennis elbow is a chronic condition caused by microscopic tears in the tendons that attach muscles to the outside of the elbow and extend to the wrist and fingers. Without rest and treatment, the tears never heal properly and a painful scar develops. The pain is evident when you shake hands, open a door or hold a coffee cup. Changes in the tendon caused by aging is a factor, with the usual age of onset between 30 and 50 years. Medial tennis elbow is a similar condition, occurring on the inside of the elbow. It is most common among younger athletes and is usually caused by repetitive stresses in sports such as tennis or baseball. Both of these will often clear up with rest, ice and anti-inflammatory drugs. Rehabilitation involves building up the muscles of the arm and stretching the affected muscles. Minor symptoms persist in as many as 40 percent of cases. If debilitating pain continues for six months, surgery may be required. A full return to activity can be expected in four-to-six months. Copyright 1996 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. | |