Jackson Free Press

"I'm good, coach!"

As I repeated this for the second time, I could hear my voice echoing. It was like an out-of-body experience where I could hear the crowd yelling, the bands playing and all the other sounds of the last three minutes of a tied Friday night high-school football game. Every bone in my body hurt, but I steadied myself to not appear injured. I knew that the coach would not send me back on the field if he knew my current state, so like any other high-school athlete with dreams of making it big, I repeatedly replied that I was good. I, like many of my teammates, believed that it was selfish to consider the health of my body before the success of the whole team. I also believed that the second-string replacement would seize the opportunity to take my place, leaving me with no position. The first play back on the field, the opposing team fumbled, and I went back to the sideline unharmed during this vulnerable state.

Underreporting sports injuries can lead to athletes' injuries worsening. In a worst-case scenario, a player can develop a syndrome termed Post Concussion Syndrome, which results from the brain sustaining additional concussions before an initial concussion has the opportunity to properly heal. This has too often been something that results from a player not properly reporting symptoms in an attempt to evade medical and coaching personnel so the player can remain on the field. The syndrome can result in permanent brain damage.

Underreporting also results in less serious injuries, including overuse injuries. In many cases, these injuries are not caused by a single, sudden twist, fall or collision. Overuse injuries occur gradually over time, when athletic activity is repeated so often that parts of the body do not have enough time to heal between playing. The athlete experiences pain but chooses not to report it and "tough it out." By not resting the injury, the athlete is vulnerable to overuse injury, including injuries that affect the ligaments, tendons, bones and growth plates.

An example would be a pitcher in baseball with an elbow strain, a swimmer with shoulder strain, or a gymnast or cheerleader with similar injuries to the wrist or elbow. My recommendation is allowing a health-care professional to evaluate the injury, and in most cases, activity should be suspended to allow time to heal with analgesics, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatories such as Advil. In some cases, a doctor will order physical therapy after x-rays or other diagnostic imaging has ruled out fractures.

Many injuries can be prevented through proper conditioning, training and equipment. They often occur when athletes suddenly increase the duration, intensity or frequency of their activity. Athletes that are not in the best shape at the beginning of the season should participate in all possible practice sessions to better endure the stress of the sport during the season. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons has partnered with the Sports Overuse and Trauma Prevention campaign to help educate players. Specific suggestions for preventing overuse injuries include limiting the number of teams an athlete plays on in one season.

The recommendations also discourage allowing athletes to play one sport year-round due to the higher likelihood of overuse injuries resulting from specific muscles not being allowed to rest. Lastly, proper hydration is very important during the training sessions to help avoid dehydration and other heat injuries.

This article is to educate, and by no means discourage anyone. A few days ago, a parent asked me to explain to her son why sports was too dangerous and a waste of time. She asked me to help her son understand why he should focus exclusively on his schoolwork to ensure success. She was actually surprised when, in front of her son, I told her that many of the most successful people I've met participated in organized sports while in grade school, including myself.

Research has repeatedly shown that organized sports result in benefits for participants, including higher self-esteem, improved health, increased strength, better endurance and more flexibility. I can comfortably say that sports helped my academic achievements because of aspects such as the possibility of ineligibility for failing academically.

Need to Know: Sports Injuries

My memories from my glorious high school football days have slightly shifted over the years. I remember watching the popular television show "Married with Children," which included my favorite character, Al Bundy. He would sit on his sofa and reminisce of his many imaginary touchdowns. This particular memory of mine did not involve a touchdown or a glorious occasion. It involved a concerned coach taking me out of the game. A major mistake repeatedly made in high-school athletics is when a player stays in the game after exhibiting signs that he or she has an overuse injury. The continued stress on the already-injured player can, in many cases, potentially lead to long-term damage to the affected body part. Here's some information about sports injuries.

A pulled muscle is when an athlete is overuses or overstretches a muscle, with tears in the muscles or tendons causing pain. Ways to help avoid this include proper warming up with stretching. It is also helpful to stop activity when a person is tired or feels discomfort. The body's natural mechanisms to protect muscles are compromised when the muscles are fatigued.

"Cramped muscles," or muscle cramps, are very common. They involve a sudden and involuntary contraction of one or more of a person's muscles. A "Charley horse," which is an involuntary spasm or cramp in the leg muscles, is a common injury that can stop you in your tracks. If you don't stop, you'll attempt to run with a great deal of undeniable pain. Some of the common causes of muscle cramps include dehydration, strenuous exercise and a previous lack of muscle use due to insufficient conditioning. Some sufferers of this condition may also have a magnesium deficiency. Many sports drinks have supplemental nutrients, including magnesium, to help with muscle cramps. For pulled muscles, follow the RICE protocol once medical personnel rule out a more serious injury:

Rest. Take a break from the activity that caused the injury. In severe cases, the medical provider may recommend crutches to avoid putting weight on the injured leg.

Ice. Use cold packs for 20 minutes at a time several times a day. Make sure you don't apply ice directly to the skin.

Compression can prevent additional swelling and blood loss. The best method is to use an elastic compression bandage such as an ACE bandage.

Elevation will reduce the swelling. Elevate the limb to a level higher than the your heart while resting.

Pulled muscles and muscle cramps are treatable injuries. It is very important for athletes to avoid the "Super Man Syndrome." (This was a made-up definition we used when I was in high school to describe an athlete that muscled through the pain.) To help avoid this, coaches and athletics staff should ensure that an athlete has proper conditioning, equipment, rest, hydration and understanding to listen to his or her body. Also, have proper pre- and post-workout stretching exercises. Alert medical personnel if an injury happens, and do not ignore it.