Lacrosse, a sport that has existed for a long time in the country and has recently become even more famous is taking the country by storm. Dubbed “America’s first sport”, lacrosse is fairly popular across high schools and colleges, with many players partaking in the game recreationally. The sport in itself combines multiple elements from other different sports such as soccer, basketball, and even hockey, making it an extremely fast-paced and competitive game. However, a sport with so many elements will definitely result in some common injuries if precautions are not taken. Without further ado, let us take a look at three of the most common lacrosse injuries and how to prevent them.
Lower Body Injuries
As with any sports that involve high-speed running and a change of direction, there exists a high probability of ligament tears in the lower body including the knee and ankle. Some of these tears include the anterior cruciate ligament, meniscus, and sprains in the ankle. Adding to that, shin splints and blisters are commonly reported by players in lacrosse due to repetitive running, dodging and cutting.
Prevention of lower body injuries is relatively simple, with lots of training and strengthening of the lower body during the off-season practice. In addition to that, it is extremely important that players get adequate rest after each training and properly relax their muscles through various techniques. They include foam rolling, ice-baths, and even periodic sports massages. This is to ensure that muscles are not prone to injuries in the long run, which will translate to weaknesses on the field.
Contusions
Contusions or bruises are fairly common in lacrosse because players are constantly swinging around a metal stick and an extremely hard rubber ball. Aside from the usual cuts, grazes and bruises, the more serious injuries involve deep contusions that increase in size over time. It is important to practice “RICE” immediately after you experienced any forms of contusions in order to recover faster.
R- Rest
I- Ice
C- Compression
E- Elevation
Prevention of contusions are fairly simple and they involve wearing proper protective equipment on the field. If you’re afraid of getting bruises, always pad up and replace your paddings once they have worn out over time.
Rib Injuries
Finally, rib injuries are extremely common since most players on the field are not mindful of errant sticks being swung around on the field. Adding to that, an unfortunate strike to the chest by the ball is bound to cause some damage which includes cracked ribs and bruises.
The main reason why rib injuries are so apparent in lacrosse is simply that players would rather sacrifice protection to increase their agility on the field. While it may seem like a good trade-off, repeated injuries to the rib area will result in some long-term unforeseeable injury that may even progress to internal bleeding. The solution is simple: Always wear rib pads and proper equipment during competitions and off-season. The trade-off is never worth it when health is being involved in the sport.