[Sports & Culture] Recreational sports injuries: Risk identification and medical solutions for rapid recovery

Summer is approaching, bringing with it a strong surge in recreational sports activities. The trend of exercising to improve health is increasingly emphasized by the community. However, alongside the wonderful physical and mental benefits, the risk of injury is always lurking, especially for amateur players. How can we satisfy our passion safely, and if an injury unfortunately occurs, what are the medical solutions to help us quickly return to sports?

The consequences of injuries stemming from being "too lenient" with oneself

In practice, sports such as basketball, swimming, the gym, and especially Pickleball are becoming extremely popular in the summer. However, the rise of these movements also brings an increased rate of injuries. MSc. Dr. Do Vu Anh, Department of Upper Extremity Surgery and Sports Medicine, Viet Duc Friendship Hospital, shares that he frequently receives sports injury cases at all times of the year, mainly related to sprains and ligament injuries.

Msc. Dr. Do Vu Anh shares that he frequently receives cases of sports injuries.

A prime example of the current injury trend is Pickleball. This is a sport that attracts many people due to its fun and accessible nature. It draws a large number of players who may not have exercised much previously. Because it is so fun and easy to play, many people pick up a racket and head straight to the court while completely bypassing essential supplementary exercises. The lack of warm-ups, absence of conditioning exercises, lack of post-workout relaxation, and failure to maintain good nutrition make getting injured a very common occurrence.

Specifically, Pickleball players often have to move laterally a lot, leading to knee joint injuries or Tennis Elbow syndrome caused by using the racket. Jumping into play immediately when the body is not ready causes overload, and as this overload accumulates over time, injury is an inevitable outcome.

Lessons in injury prevention from the stars

Many people mistakenly believe that to play sports brilliantly like Messi, Ronaldo, or Erling Haaland, one must spend all day training on the pitch. The reality is quite the opposite. Professional athletes only play for a few hours. Most of the remaining time, they toil away in the gym, use massage therapies, soak in pools, and strictly adhere to a scientific nutritional regimen. Thanks to these supplementary measures, they are able to maintain peak performance and prevent injuries.

Professional athletes use scientific supplementary measures to prevent injuries.

According to Dr. Do Vu Anh, supplementary exercises play an essential role. When muscle strength is enhanced and the range of motion of the joints is maintained at a good level, the body can avoid injuries. This is because the nature of ligament injuries usually stems from moving in incorrect postures, exceeding the normal range of motion, causing the joint to dislocate. When muscles are weak and not strong enough to stabilize the joint, combined with loose ligaments and poor physical condition, the risk of injury is much higher.

To prevent injuries, prevention is always the top guiding principle. Dr. Do Vu Anh reveals his personal secret: instead of just warming up in place for 5 to 10 minutes, he chooses to cycle to the sports field. This cycling process acts as a natural warm-up, helping to increase the range of motion for key joints such as the hip, knee, and ankle joints. After arriving at the field, he warms up for another 15 minutes before starting to play. Particularly, after the match ends, a leisurely bicycle ride home acts as a cool-down exercise, helping tendons and muscles relax.

Although modern life is very busy and everyone has a different schedule, if we understand the principles of movement, we will know how to arrange our time to practice supplementary exercises in the most scientific way.

Minimally invasive medical technology: Erasing the fear of the "scalpel"

Even with careful preparation, the risk of injury is sometimes hard to avoid. Many people, especially office workers who play sports, harbor extreme fear when hearing about the need for surgery due to concerns about pain and prolonged recovery time.

However, with the advancement of medicine, especially minimally invasive arthroscopic surgical technology, patients can feel much more at ease. Dr. Vu Anh and his team at Viet Duc Friendship Hospital have successfully applied arthroscopic techniques to many complex injuries. Specifically, in knee surgery, arthroscopy is used to reconstruct the anterior cruciate ligament, posterior cruciate ligament, and preserve the meniscus through repair. For the shoulder, arthroscopy helps treat rotator cuff tears, shoulder dislocations, or subacromial impingement syndrome. Even for conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome or trigger finger, patients can undergo same-day surgery with the application of biological tissue glue instead of traditional sutures.

Patients with carpal tunnel syndrome can undergo same-day surgery with the application of biological tissue glue.

Personalized treatment - The key to returning after an injury

A good surgery is only half the battle. Dr. Vu Anh emphasizes the importance of individualization in medicine, which must be demonstrated consistently before, during, and after surgery.

Dr. Vu Anh examines and consults a patient with an injury

Each patient has a different injury condition; for example, some only have a single ligament injury, while others suffer from injuries to two or three ligaments combined with a meniscal tear. Therefore, the doctor must conduct an extremely thorough examination to devise a specialized treatment strategy for each individual.

Thorough consultation with the patient regarding the surgical method and postoperative rehabilitation exercise plan is core.

The rehabilitation process also requires flexibility because everyone's pain threshold and self-discipline are different.

Sensitive patients who are afraid of pain or afraid of exercising will require the doctor to spend more time closely monitoring and encouraging them compared to other patients.

Sports are a golden medicine for health, but only when we participate with understanding and respect for our bodies. If misfortune strikes, the advancement of sports medicine along with dedicated personalized treatment methods is the magic that helps you regain your form early and return strongly to your passion.

Source: Sports & Culture News Website