|
|
|
Dieting our Way to Obesity
Dieting our way to Obesity:
To say that Americans are obsessed with dieting is an
understatement! Pick up any magazine, or turn-on any source of
advertising and you're bombarded with the latest diet schemes
and food fads. More often than...
Do Superstitions In Sports Actually Work?
What does it take to be successful in sports? I have talked a lot about motivation, confidence, and focus and desire. All of these are important, but what about luck? Do you ever wonder why athletes wear the same “lucky shirt” in competition such...
Jacked Up Baseball Equipment Truths!
Baseball: the great all-American pastime. Few of us can remember a summer from our childhood that did not include throwing a ball around or running the diamond. Today, baseball is all of that and much more. Baseball equipment has become as...
My Top Ten Favorite Baseball Movies
My Top Ten Favorite Baseball Movies
My top ten baseball movies consist of five movies on the list. There have been many movies with a baseball theme that I have liked, but there are only five I have loved. I will get to them soon.
Some of the...
What Do Gladiators and the Weekend Warrior Have In Common?
Strip off the tie and grab your running shoes, golf clubs or baseball mitt! The weekend has arrived. You look forward to extra time on Saturday and Sunday to enjoy your favorite sport. And you probably cram in as much activity as possible before...
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
What Do Gladiators and the Weekend Warrior Have In Common?
Strip off the tie and grab your running shoes, golf clubs or baseball mitt! The weekend has arrived. You look forward to extra time on Saturday and Sunday to enjoy your favorite sport. And you probably cram in as much activity as possible before Monday morning rolls around. You’re a weekend warrior!
If you find yourself nursing a painful knee or strained muscle at the office, you are in the company of gladiators.
Favored gladiators were considered the sports heroes of their day. If a gladiator survived serious injury, they were attended to by sports physicians for common problems such as sprains, torn ligaments and muscle strains. The first doctor to gain notoriety for treating gladiators was Galen, acclaimed as the father of sports medicine. Living from 129 to 199 BC, Galen traveled throughout Rome bandaging-up gladiators. Although Galen used a form of traction to set bones and was considered way ahead of his time, he was not aware of the simple principle of R.I.C.E. (rest-ice-compression-elevation) to treat sports-related injuries.
Today, it’s easy for weekend warriors to take care of minor sprains and strains using the recommended technique of R.I.C.E. According to the Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, “more than 10 million sports injuries are treated each year in the USA. Athletes and non-athletes share many similar injuries…Immediate treatment for almost all acute athletic injuries is R.I.C.E.”
Here is the four-part method for using R.I.C.E.:
Rest: Stop the activity causing pain and allow the injured area to rest for 2 to 3 days.
Ice: To decrease swelling and numb pain, apply ice in the form of ice packs or ice
massage as soon as possible. Treat for a period of 48 to 72 hours after an injury happens. Ice applications should last for 10 to 30 minutes until the point of numbness. Longer icing periods should be avoided as this could result in tissue damage. Allow the skin to return to normal temperature before reapplying an ice pack.
Compression: To decrease swelling and bruising, compression should be applied immediately using a compression or elastic wrap, or athletic tape. Do not apply compression to the point of cutting off circulation (a feeling of numbness or tingling). Compression can also be used at the same time an ice pack is being applied.
Elevation: Raise the injured area to above heart level to minimize internal bleeding and swelling.
Unlike yesterday’s gladiators, today’s weekend warriors who survive the trials of running too hard, pitching a no-hitter or shooting too many hoops, are better prepared. With a reusable ice pack in hand and knowledge of R.I.C.E., every warrior can triumph over pain.
Disclaimer: This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical treatment or consultation. Always consult with your physician in the event of a serious injury.
About the Author
About the Author: Louise Roach is a health and fitness editor, marketing specialist, and product development consultant. She helps others find pain relief through the use of SnowPack reusable, chemical-free ice packs, the SnowPack SportCover and SnowPack Body-n-Ice Kits. Learn more about the benefits of ice therapy at http://www.snowpackusa.com/
Sign up for free health and fitness newsletter at: http://home.netcom.com/~newsflash/
|
|
|
|
|
|
