 I'm not a big fan of contact sports, rugby and American football to be more specific. I just hate the idea of having to tackle other people to prevent them from scoring. It's just too violent.
I could just imagine how many times a player can get injured in a year. I'm betting that it's often. What kinds of injury do American football players usually encounter? Here are some examples:
1. Sprained ligaments. Players usually get this from the sudden twists or sudden movements they make as they react to the on-going plays.
2. Strained muscles. This injury usually occurs when a player overreaches for something, thereby, causing their muscles to extend well beyond their limit and tear.
3. Contusions. Considering how the entire game is built around tackling and charging at each other, I don't see how bruising can be avoided in American football.
4. Fractures. This happens when the blunt force trauma from tackling causes a bone to form a crack or completely break. This usually occurs from bad falls or being tackled by an opponent that's significantly larger than the player.
Now, do you see why I dislike Americal football so much?
by: Abbey Grace Yap
 Sports athletes are supposed to stay healthy and fit. To stay buff, they have to make exercise a part of their daily lives. They do, after all, need to stay in the best shape to make sure that they can keep up with their game.
But sometimes, people take working out too seriously that they overdo it a little bit. Some athletes exercise excessively in hopes of speeding up their progress. But because they forced their body to the limit, they end up with different kinds of muscle injuries.
Physical therapists advise people to rest the injured body part to avoid hurting it some more. To relieve the pain and discomfort, hot packs or heating pads are fast becoming a popular choice. Here's why:
The heat decreases the stiffness that makes it painful to move the limb around.
The heat stimulates blood vessel dilation, thereby increasing blood flow to the affected part.
The heat stimulates the skin. This will help decrease the amount of pain messages being sent to your brain.
Personally, I like using hot packs to ease muscle pain because it's soothing and relaxing. What about you?
by: Abbey Grace Yap
 Being in a family of athletes, I've been exposed to sports my whole life. However, I've seen family members come home with injuries that they got from the game. It may be a bit scary for people watching on the sidelines, but the players don't seem to mind.
You don't mind the little nicks and bruises you get when you're having so much fun playing. Until you get into a serious injury, that is.
Let me share a couple of fun sports that could get a little rough and rugged:
Rugby. It's like putting together the English and American football games and taking away the protective gear (except for shin guards).
Base jumping. You pretty much rest your fate on your gears. If your parachute doesn't open properly, you'd better start praying for a miracle.
Cave diving. Aside from the possibility of decompression setting in, the panic induced by losing one's bearing in the middle of pitch black cave waters can be dangerous.
Exhilarating as these sports may be, I don't think I'd want to gamble with my life and limbs. There are other, less dangerous sports out there I can choose from after all.
by: Abbey Grace Yap
 Among the different footwear we use, running shoes are among the most difficult to buy. Why? Because you have to have the most perfect running shoes in the market.
By perfect, I don't mean the prettiest or the most expensive one to date. By perfect, I mean the right fit and the right support to ensure that you don't injure yourself while running with them.
So, how do you choose the perfect running shoe?
First, you determine what type of foot you have. Are you flat-footed, normal, or high-arched? Knowing this would make choosing a shoe easier because you can simply tell a shoe store attendant that you're looking for a running shoe for your type of feet.
Second, go to a store that specializes on sports shoes. The sales personnel manning the shop are better trained at assisting you pick out the right running shoes for your foot type.
Lastly, try them out before buying them. Give it a good walk around the store to see if they are just as comfortable when being used as they were when you wore them sitting down.
Remember, safety first. Choose your running shoes wisely and protect yourself from injuries.
by: Abbey Grace Yap
 When people talk of running for your health, most people concentrate on the physical benefits we can get from the activity. But let's not just concentrate on that. Running has lots more to offer, especially to our psychological well-being.
Run to relieve stress
Most people who run take that time to think a lot of things through. Since they're undisturbed during that time, they tend to focus more and think clearer.
Run to feel better
Exercising in general, triggers the production of feel-good chemicals called endorphins. Running is no exception. Most people find themselves happier or relatively less stressed after an hour of running.
Run to be more confident
Most people attest to the fact that after enjoying the physical benefits of running (i.e. losing weight, trimming down, etc.) they've developed better self esteem and have since been more confident around other people.
Run to fight anxiety and depression
Aside from upping endorphin levels, running has been observed to boost the amount of serotonin in the brain. This helps curb down anxiety attacks and combat depression.
Now who would've thought running offered much more than just physical exercise?
by: Abbey Grace Yap
 Bicycling is one of the better exercise choices if you're aiming to improve your cardiovascular health or if your goal is to maintain physical activity despite arthritis. It's low-impact and blood-pumping, which makes it a good pick for both.
But which one's better, a stationary/indoor bike or an outdoor bike?
Both bicycles have their own benefits. For the indoor bike, you can exercise all you want, regardless of whether the weather is cooperative or not. Also, you can ride as long as you want, without having to worry about daylight running out on you.
As for the outdoor bike, the terrain actually offers added resistance to the workout your getting. Also, if the weather's good, you can use the outdoor bike to exercise while soaking up some sun or breathing in fresh air.
It doesn't really matter if you choose to go with a stationary or an indoor bike. What's important is that you keep your mind on the reason why you're buying the equipment in the first place, and that is to stay healthy.
by: Abbey Grace Yap
In playing any kind of sport, you can get hurt and injured. Millions of Americans suffer from head trauma each year, and most cases of concussions are sports related. A concussion happens when a moving object, a soccer ball for example, hits your head.
When you have a concussion, you may or may not lose unconsciousness. You may not even remember things that happened before or after your accident. You may also feel dizzy, nauseous, and confused. These post-concussive symptoms usually go away three to four days after the accident. However, it may take weeks or months for symptoms to improve in severe cases.
The following are serious reminders to remember after a sports-related head injury:
* Go see a doctor immediately if you have had a blow to the head or experienced any of the concussion symptoms mentioned above.
* Do not use sedative drugs or drink alcohol after a head injury.
* Be wary of any neurological and physical discomfort.
* Avoid activities that may lead to repeat head injury.
by: Rcon Pascua
In football, players who are big or overweight perform better in this very physical game. But while their career as football players may in good terms, their health most likely suffers.
According to a recent sports health study led by Dr. James Borchers, two-thirds of football players in Division 1 colleges are overweight, and 42 percent of these are confirmed to have metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is basically a group of conditions that raise one's risk of having diabetes and heart diseases.
Borchers also reported that linemen players, the ones assigned to protect the quarterback, are twice as likely to develop metabolic syndrome compared to other positions. With this alarming findings, Borchers raised the need to study college football players as soon as possible as well as guide all football players in their health and weight management. This way, aspiring players can avoid developing heart-related complications over time.
by: Rcon Pascua
The most dangerous phrase heard in the weight room of any gym is, “Don’t worry, I have it.” That usually means the person lifting the weight is self confident enough that they don’t need or wish to bother anyone to serve as a spotter.
Now that new year’s resolutions are in full swing, for many that includes cardio (treadmill, elliptical, rower) and resistive (Nautilus, Bowflex, free weights) workouts. Resistive exercise can be dangerous if certain precautions are not followed.
The basis of resistive exercise is to maximally exert a muscle so that it will gradually hypertrophy (enlarge) to handle increasing amounts of weight. This can be done in sudden short spurts with large amounts of weight or by increased repetitive movements with lighter weights.
Body builders typically prefer the first option, especially when bench pressing. In a bench press position, any loss of control of the weight can lead to disaster.
Stafon Johnson, a USC running back, was bench pressing in September when the weight fell on his throat, collapsing his trachea and obstructing his air flow. He missed most of the season and his voice hasn’t fully recovered.
Helpful tips before engaging in any resistive exercise include:
• Adequate warm up before lifting
• Know the amount of weight you can lift safely
• Stop if you feel pain or become lightheaded
• When performing any routine where you may be in danger if control of the weight is lost, always use one or two spotters.
Marc Nee, a personal trainer with “Training with Heart,” advises to always be prepared for the worst when lifting free weights. “If you really want to attempt to lift the maximum amount of weight, use a machine and leave the free weights alone,” he said.
New York Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce suffered a neck injury during a game on Oct. 25. He was reported to have symptoms of neck pain and a burning sensation radiating to his arm. After his symptoms subsided over the next few days, he returned to his normal activity. When neck pain returned weeks later, an MRI revealed a bulging disc in the cervical spine, placing him on the disabled list.
Pierce’s situation is not that uncommon, especially for a linebacker. The cervical spine consists of a series of seven bony vertebrae designed to protect the fragile spinal cord and nerve roots. This area of the nervous system is responsible for sensation and movement of the upper extremities.
Sandwiched between each of the vertebrae is a cartilaginous disc. The center of the disc consists of soft, moist material to cushion any impact.
In a situation where there is repeated trauma to the head and neck causing compression, the discs become brittle and susceptible to fracture and eventual herniation (bulging). A disc that is out of place can irritate the nerve roots and/or the spinal cord.
Football players who use their heads when blocking and stretch their necks to one side tackling are particularly susceptible to these injuries. An MRI scan of a linebacker’s cervical spine typically shows bony arthritic changes and compressed discs consistent with that seen in an elderly person.
Treatment for these injuries can be conservative with physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications and rest. Surgical intervention may include simply removing the herniated portion of disc alone or in combination with fusing the vertebrae for stability.
Cervical spine injuries can be avoided by strengthening supporting neck muscles, wearing a protective collar and most importantly, utilizing proper blocking and tackling techniques.
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