Working with Athletes

While this form of sport has a long and geographically varied history, it is still practiced widely today as Statista reports that approximately 3.42 million Americans six years of age and up currently participate in some form of martial arts. This puts a number of them at risk for certain injuries.

Approximately 100 million Americans struggle with some type of chronic pain, according to The American Academy of Pain Medicine. For approximately 7 percent of these individuals, the pain is located in the hip area, with this type of pain especially problematic for athletes. The Rheumatology Network explains that hip injuries are fairly common in people who engage in activities that involve a high degree of increased force and extremes of movement across the hips.

The Brain Injury Research Institute explains that a concussion, also commonly referred to as a mild traumatic brain injury or mTBI, occurs when there is some type of “bump, blow, or jolt to either the head or the body that causes the brain to move rapidly inside the skull.” Ultimately, this movement can change the way the brain works. Though some athletes will immediately feel the effects of a concussion—suffering from headaches, nausea, confusion, and memory issues—the institute stresses that, in some cases, these symptoms may take days if not weeks to appear.

Sports are an important and oftentimes cherished part of U.S. culture, with Statista reporting that the average National Football League (NFL) game draws in almost 70,000 attendees. Major League Baseball (MLB) and Major League Soccer (MLS) collect the next biggest crowds, with roughly 30,000 and 22,000 seats filled per game, respectively. And though some people prefer to watch their favorite sports from the comfort of their own homes or in a seat at their local stadium or field, others like to take a more active role and actually get in on the play.

According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association’s (SFIA) 2017 Sports, Fitness, and Leisure Activities Topline Participation Report, more people are participating in sporting activities, even if only on a casual basis. Based on their research, they found an increase in baseball, ice hockey, rugby, and swimming, specifically. Their report also noted that people tend to be spending more money on things like gym memberships and outdoor recreational activities. Unfortunately, sometimes increased activity brings injury. While not all injuries can be treated the same way or by using the same methods, kinesiology tape can sometimes help.