WIR IM SPORT 08.2023
Magazine of the Landessportbund NRW
PDF-Download
Whether professional or amateur athletes - problems or injuries to muscles, tendons and joints occur in both groups of athletes. A twisted knee joint, a twisted ankle or an injured wrist after a fall are typical injuries that are treated in the emergency department after a sporting event. However, there are also injuries that do not occur acutely. Instead, they announce themselves beforehand.
Both forms deserve medical attention. An initial indication and therefore a harbinger of an injury can be a pulling sensation in the muscle or at the transition to the tendon. Important: if symptoms persist, do not simply carry on exercising. This warning sign should be taken seriously! Scarred tissue can often be the cause.
If its elasticity is exceeded, minor or major damage occurs. Depending on the degree of force exerted and the individual healing potential of the person affected, this can be classified as reparable or irreparable.
The remarkable thing is that the affected person does not even notice many of the minor muscle and tendon injuries because the body "copes" with them without this being synonymous with healing. Instead, scars form, leaving behind inferior tissue that can be damaged again more quickly.
The reason: the elasticity of scar tissue is lower than that of muscles or tendons. Injuries should therefore be treated as early as possible.
WEEKEND WARRIOR: WATCH OUT!
Special case of muscle tears: A major muscle tear can never heal satisfactorily on its own. In this case, the two muscle ends pull apart and must be surgically sutured as soon as possible. Failure to operate leads to a considerable loss of muscle or muscle group function.
However, the following applies to all sports and regardless of whether there are already precursors:
With the help of good preparation - by warming up sufficiently and exercising regularly - a large number of injuries can be prevented or the risk of injury minimized. As a "weekend warrior" (high-intensity sport once a week), you should therefore be particularly careful from a certain age.
