Today, doing sports has become quite popular. Although doing sports is good for both our body and soul, it also increases our risk of injury. Brain and Neurosurgery Specialist Op. Dr. Umut Yaka provided information about the importance of a doctor’s check-up before starting sports, whether people with joint pain have conditions severe enough to prevent them from doing sports, and which sports are good or bad for which conditions.
The recent increase in the popularity of sports and people's growing desire to do sports lead to an increase in complaints related to some existing conditions and to injuries. It is vital for anyone who wants to do sports regularly and make sports a part of their lifestyle to have a check-up beforehand. Will the heart and lung systems be able to withstand daily excessive exertion? Or is the sports branch you have chosen suitable for your musculoskeletal system? All such questions will also help you choose the sports branch you will start according to the results of a detailed examination.
Swimming and Pilates Are Good for Lower Back and Neck Pain
One of the biggest mistakes made while doing sports is that people with serious lower back and neck pain do weight training. This is a very risky situation in terms of the course of your condition. Sports that place more than normal load on the discs between the vertebrae are harmful to spinal health. Doing weightlifting sports unconsciously or excessively may lead to serious injuries. If such sports are to be done, they should be combined with protective sports or exercises for the back and waist muscles under the guidance of a specialist sports trainer. Otherwise, the emergence of chronic lower back and neck pain at a very early age becomes inevitable. Patients with lower back and neck problems should focus on swimming and Pilates, which are beneficial for spinal health, instead of sports such as fitness.
Those with Hip, Knee, and Ankle Problems Should Stay Away from These Sports!
Injuries are frequently experienced especially in sports such as football, basketball, and volleyball. Those who have problems in weight-bearing joints such as the hip, knee, and ankle should stay away from these sports branches, as they will cause their complaints to increase even more. In addition, people who have problems in the kneecap joint should not use a bicycle because of the pedaling motion.
Sports That Include Running Increase Meniscus Problems
If a person with a meniscus problem in the knee joint does sports that include running, their pain complaints will increase. Such people should be directed to areas where they will use the knee joint less while planning their sports programs. This guidance should be provided by knowledgeable sports coaches and orthopedic specialists who are experts in the field of sports health. It should be evaluated in advance which sport will make which joint work more than normal, and a sports program specific to the patient should be created.
Avoid Swimming If You Have Shoulder Problems
Constant swimming with repetitive strokes as a sport also causes the complaints of patients with shoulder tendon problems to arise. People with serious shoulder problems should not insist on swimming and should not do weight training that requires lifting the shoulder joint to 90 degrees and above. Sports such as volleyball, tennis, and basketball are also inconvenient for these people.
Regular and controlled nutrition must definitely be added to regular sports. Otherwise, the sports done to become healthier may improve some things while disrupting other systems.
