Corneal Abrasions

A corneal abrasion is a scratch on the eye's cornea. The cornea is the clear, protective covering over the iris, which is the colored part of the eye, and the pupil.

A corneal abrasion is a very aggravating injury. The cornea is very important to vision and protecting the eye.

Causes

•    Being poked in the eye, for instance by a fingernail, plant, or makeup brush

•    Dirt and other things getting caught under your eye lid

•    Chemicals getting in your eye

•    Aggressively rubbing your eye

•    Poor fitting or dirty contact lenses

•    Certain types of eye infections

Avoiding Abrasions

The best way to avoid an abrasion is to keep from rubbing your eyes when you get something in them. Rubbing your eye will only cause damage to your eye. The best way to get things out of you eye is to flush them out with eye wash, eye drops, clean water or a sterile solution.

Symptoms

Once you've had a corneal abrasion, you're not likely to forget the unrelenting pain and discomfort it can cause.

Feeling like you have sand or grit in your eye, eye pain, especially when opening or closing your eye, tearing and redness, sensitivity to light and

Blurred vision or loss of vision.

 In my game this past friday, I was going after a rebound and caught a hand to my right eye. When i got hit i lost complete vision in my eye. it was one of the worse feelings of my life. I couldn't see , so our team trainer felt it would be best for me to go to the emergency room immediately. After the eye specialist checked me out, she came to the conclusion that I had an corneal abrasion. 

Plantar fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain. Under your foot, there is a ligament called the plantar fascia that connects your heel bone to your toes. It supports the arch of the foot. It someone happens to strain that ligament, it can get weak, swollen or inflamed which results in a lot of pain. After that, the simple joy of walking can be very painful. Plantar fasciitis is very common in athletes, especially track runners, basketball and football players.

Plantar fasciitis is caused by the inflammation of the ligament that supports your foot arch. Repeated strains can lead to tiny tears which can cause excruciating pain. Here are some causes of plantar fasciitis:

1. Flat feet or high arches
2. Overweight
3. Wearing shoes that don't fit or shoes that are worn out
4. Walking, standing or running for long periods of time

Most people with Plantar fasciitis have pain when they take their first steps of the day. However, after a couple minutes of walking, the stiffness and  pain lessens and become bearable.

If diagnosed, the doctor will take X-rays and even a MRI to see if there are any tears or stress fracture. As far as treatment go, some work better than others for different people. The most common and recommended treatment is to rest the feet. Take time away from the activities that makes your foot hurt the most. Another treatment is to ice the feet. Icing will reduced pain and swelling. It's best to get a new pair of shoes with a great cushion sole and good arch support. Lastly, if the pain still exist, you may need to get custom made orthotics. By doing so, the sole is molded to your foot which gives the right arch support to your foot.

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

During my second season playing college basketball, I was diagnosed with plantar fasciitis. It was by FAR the most annoying and painful discomfort I ever experienced. Waking up every morning was a struggle. The simple routine of waking up and going to the bathroom every morning was very painful for me. On top of that, I had to practice every single day which just added on the pain. I did every treatment you could think. I iced my feet daily, got massages and I even wore night splints (which makes the list of top 5 most uncomfortable things ever.) After months of pain, I went to the doctor and got an MRI. The results revealed that i had a partial tear in the ligament. It was a minor setback. It impacted my overall performance on the basketball court. After, I had got custom made orthotics. After a few weeks of wearing them my feet started to get better and better. Now i'm moving much better on the court. I wouldn't wish plantar fasciitis on anyone. It was truly the most painful thing I ever experienced.

Groin Pulls/ Strains

Groin Pull

A groin pull is an injury to the muscles of the inner thigh. The groin muscles, called the adductor muscle group, consists of six muscles that span the distance from the inner pelvis to the inner part of the femur (thigh bone). These muscles pull the legs together, and also help with other movements of the hip joint. The adductor muscles are important to many types of athletes including sprinters, swimmers, soccer players, and football players. When a muscle is strained, the muscle is stretched too far. Less severe strains pull the muscle beyond their normal excursion. More severe strains tear the muscle fibers, and can even cause a complete tear of the muscle. Most commonly, groin pulls are minor tears of some muscle fibers, but the bulk of the muscle tissue remains intact.

Symptoms

An acute groin pull can be quite painful, depending on the severity of the injury. Groin pulls are usually graded as follows:

Grade 1 Groin Strain: Mild discomfort, often no disability. Usually does not limit activity.

Grade 2 Groin Strain: Moderate discomfort, can limit ability to perform activities such as running and jumping. May have moderate swelling and bruising associated.

Grade 3 Groin Strain: Severe injury that can cause pain with walking. Often patients complain of muscle spasm, swelling, and significant bruising.

Treatment for Strains

~ Rest- It is important to rest following the injury to allow the injured muscle to properly heal. Allow pain to guide your level of activity; this means that activities which cause symptoms should be avoided.

~ Stretching- Gentle stretching is helpful, but it should not be painful. Stretching excessively can be harmful and slow the healing process.

~ Ice the Injury- Apply ice to the injured area in the acute phase (first 48 hours after injury), and then after activities. Ice will help calm the inflammatory response and stimulate blood flow to the area.

~ Heat Applications- Before activities, gentle heating can help loosen the muscle. Apply a heat pack to the groin prior to stretching or exercising. As a general rule of thumb, remember to heat before, and ice after.

Prevention

New research is shedding light on factors that can be helpful in preventing groin injuries. Competitive athletes who participate in soccer, ice hockey, or similar sports that are prone to groin injuries should focus some energy on groin injury prevention. Exactly what exercises and stretches are most important in still being worked out, but some suggestions for groin injury prevention include:

Adductor stretching

Hip adductor and abductor strengthening

Pelvic stabilization exercises

Core stability, including abdominal and lumbar strengthening

What Your Acilles Heel?

Achilles Tendonitis

Achilles tendinitis is a common condition that causes pain along the back of the leg near the heel.

The Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in the body. It connects your calf muscles to your heel bone and is used when you walk, run, and jump.

Although the Achilles tendon can withstand great stresses from running and jumping, it is also prone to tendinitis, a condition associated with overuse and degeneration.

Description

Simply defined, tendinitis is inflammation of a tendon. Inflammation is the body's natural response to injury or disease, and often causes swelling, pain, or irritation. There are two types of Achilles tendinitis, based upon which part of the tendon is inflamed.

Cause

Achilles tendinitis is typically not related to a specific injury. The problem results from repetitive stress to the tendon. This often happens when we push our bodies to do too much, too soon, but other factors can make it more likely to develop tendinitis, including:.

• Sudden increase in the amount or intensity of exercise activity—for example, increasing the distance you run every day by a few miles without giving your body a chance to adjust to the new distance
• Tight calf muscles—Having tight calf muscles and suddenly starting an aggressive exercise program can put extra stress on the Achilles tendon
• Bone spur—Extra bone growth where the Achilles tendon attaches to the heel bone can rub against the tendon and cause pain

Symptoms

Common symptoms of Achilles tendinitis include:

• Pain and stiffness along the Achilles tendon in the morning
• Pain along the tendon or back of the heel that worsens with activity
• Severe pain the day after exercising
• Thickening of the tendon
• Bone spur (insertional tendinitis)
• Swelling that is present all the time and gets worse throughout the day with activity

If you have experienced a sudden "pop" in the back of your calf or heel, you may have torn your Achilles tendon.

Treatment

In most cases, nonsurgical treatment options will provide pain relief, although it may take a few months for symptoms to completely subside. Even with early treatment, the pain may last longer than 3 months. If you have had pain for several months before seeking treatment, it may take 6 months before treatment methods take effect.

 The first step in reducing pain is to decrease or even stop the activities that make the pain worse. If you regularly do high-impact exercises switching to low-impact activities will put less stress on the Achilles tendon. Cross-training activities such as biking, elliptical exercise, and swimming are low-impact options to help you stay active.

Placing ice on the most painful area of the Achilles tendon is helpful and can be done as needed throughout the day. This can be done for up to 20 minutes and should be stopped earlier if the skin becomes numb. A foam cup filled with water and then frozen creates a simple, reusable ice pack. After the water has frozen in the cup, tear off the rim of the cup. Then rub the ice on the Achilles tendon. With repeated use, a groove that fits the Achilles tendon will appear, creating a "custom-fit" ice pack.

Bulging Disk

Bulging And Herniated Disc

Bulging discs can be a disabling and potentially dangerous condition affecting athletes and active individuals alike. It is a condition which can be overlooked or misdiagnosed, but should not be taken lightly due to the possibility of serious consequences.

                                         Background Info    

Discs are sandwiched between the spinal vertebrae that make up the bones of the back. The disc can be compared to a jelly donut, whereas the jelly is the center of the disc, and is known as the nucleus pulposus. Surrounding the jelly is the donut portion, or the anulus fibrosus, which, as its name implies, is a series of interwoven fibrous rings, designed to contain the central portion of the disc. If the nucleus pulposus (or jelly) migrates away from the center, the annulus fibrosus will become deformed and bulge. Continued bulging of the disc may result in a partial or complete herniation, whereas the jelly is squeezed out of the donut. Depending on how much of the nucleus pulposus is displaced determines if is a partial or complete herniation. The chemical makeup of the nucleus is aggravating to the surrounding structures, including muscles, ligaments, blood vessels and nerve endings, and when the disc herniation irritates these structures pain, spasms, swelling, weakness, paresthesia or even paralysis may be caused.

HOW DOES IT HAPPEN ?

As with many injuries, there can be multiple culprits to a herniated disc. Chronic multiple microtraumas or a macrotrauma may cause the onset of the condition. Factors that may expose someone to higher risk to develop a disc problem include posture, physical condition, anatomic structure and alignment, congenital conditions, and preexisting/coexisting injuries.  For example, a baseball catcher or football lineman may have muscular imbalances and poor posture, which increase the risk of developing a herniated disc.  This may be compounded by multiple microtraumas such as bending, pushing, or twisting inherent in their position; or a sudden macrotrauma such as getting hit while protecting home plate or having to take on an unexpected double team block. In these instances the individual may be predisposed to a disc injury, and by experiencing chronic repeated stressors or a single significant episode, the forces may push the disc beyond the limits of the surrounding cartilage to cause a disc herniation.

   TREATMENT

The treatment focus is on centralizing the bulging nucleus back into the disc (which is usually only possible for bulging discs due to the difficulty with getting the jelly back into the center of the donut, after it has been squeezed out). Initial management of any pain or spasm that may coexist may be treated by modalities including ice, heat, ultrasound, electrical stimulation or massage, or a host of other common methods. As the pain is managed and begins subsiding, treatment focus will shift to the core of the problem. This will include specific exercises to assist in centralizing the disc: spinal extension exercises are indicated with posterior bulging discs; spinal flexion exercises for anterior bulging discs. Together with a calculated stretching regimen, postural management, and core trunk strengthening and stabilization exercises (to improve endurance, strength and power); successful management of the problem can be achieved. Some individuals may require spinal manipulation or mobilization techniques, deep soft tissue mobilization, neural stretching, or various other interventions by trained personnel for successful results. The intervention of a physician or orthopedic surgeon may also be necessary, particularly if the disc is herniated. However, if the bulging disc is detected early enough and properly treated, successful long-term results are highly likely.

Concussions and Athletes

What is a Concussion?

 A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury, caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head that can change the way your brain normally works. Concussions can also occur from a blow to the body that causes the head to move rapidly back and forth. Even a “ding,” “getting your bell rung,” or what seems to be mild bump or blow to the head can be serious.

 Concussions can occur in any sport or recreation activity. So, all coaches, parents, and athletes need to learn concussion signs and symptoms and what to do if a concussion occurs.

To help recognize a concussion, you should watch for the following two things among your athletes:

• A forceful bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body that results in rapid movement of the head.

• Any change in the athlete’s behavior, thinking, or physical functioning.

Athletes who experience any of the signs and symptoms listed below after a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body should be kept out of play the day of the injury and until a health care professional, experienced in evaluating for concussion, says they are symptom-free and it’s OK to return to play.

What Should I do If a Concussion Occurs?

If you suspect that an athlete has a concussion, implement your 4-step action plan:

1. Remove the athlete from play. Look for signs and symptoms of a concussion if your athlete has experienced a bump or blow to the head or body. When in doubt, keep the athlete out of play.
2. Ensure that the athlete is evaluated by a health care professional experienced in evaluating for concussion. Do not try to judge the severity of the injury yourself. Health care professionals have a number of methods that they can use to assess the severity of concussions. As a coach, recording the following information can help health care professionals in assessing the athlete after the injury:
   
   
   
   • Cause of the injury and force of the hit or blow to the head or body
   • Any loss of consciousness (passed out/knocked out) and if so, for how long
   • Any memory loss immediately following the injury
   • Any seizures immediately following the injury
   • Number of previous concussions
     
     
3. Inform the athlete’s parents or guardians about the possible concussion and give them the fact sheet on concussion. Make sure they know that the athlete should be seen by a health care professional experienced in evaluating for concussion.
4. Keep the athlete out of play the day of the injury and until a health care professional, experienced in evaluating for concussion, says they are symptom-free and it’s OK to return to play. A repeat concussion that occurs before the brain recovers from the first—usually within a short period of time (hours, days, or weeks)—can slow recovery or increase the likelihood of having long-term problems. In rare cases, repeat concussions can result in edema (brain swelling), permanent brain damage, and even death

What Can I Do to Prevent Concussions?

• Teach and practice safe playing techniques.
• Encourage athletes to follow the rules of play and to practice good sportsmanship at all times

Teach athletes it’s not smart to play with a concussion.Rest is key after a concussion. Sometimes athletes, parents, and other school or league officials wrongly believe that it shows strength and courage to play injured. Discourage others from pressuring injured athletes to play.

Prevent long-term problems. If an athlete has a concussion, their brain needs time to heal. Don’t let them return to play the day of the injury and until a health care professional, experienced in evaluating for concussion, says they are symptom-free and it’s OK to return to play. A repeat concussion that occurs before the brain recovers from the first—usually within a short time period (hours, days, weeks)—can slow recovery or increase the chances for long-term problems.

 

Personal Experience

In a basketball game last year, I was pursuing a rebound and received an elbow right across my forehead. I immediately fell to my knees holding my face in a great deal of pain. I remember feeling very weird throughout the game. After the game I went to the trainer to get checked on. After he asked me a few questions and took a look at me, he told me that I was concussed, and that he’s not going to allow me to practice the next day. It was possibly the worse feeling that I had ever felt. It was not fun at all.