3 Hidden Reasons Why You Might Be Losing Your Stride In Sports
Sports injuries aren't always as obvious as a bad knee or an aching lower back. In many cases, they're far more subtle, sending you on a mad scramble to pinpoint what's wrong. Whether you're a casual athlete or are aspiring to go pro, if your performance is suddenly lagging without explanation, the hidden culprit may be one of these tough-to-diagnose problems:
Overuse
Overuse happens when you exercise too much without giving your body enough time to recover. The problem is that because effects of strenuous physical activity are cumulative – and there's no way to accurately predict how many hours of exercise a week are too many for your unique needs – overuse often goes unnoticed until it becomes serious enough to cause a host of unpleasant symptoms.
A noticeable drop in energy levels, increased resting heart rate, weakened immunity, and ongoing soreness are some of the most common physical signs of overuse sports injuries, but your emotional state also counts. When your body is under too much stress, it naturally affects your mindset. If you're feeling depressed, have insomnia, or are exhausted from morning to night, your sports practice schedule may be to blame.
Head Injury
Not all head injuries are as obvious as football concussions. Experts believe that smaller hits, called subconcussive impacts, can be just as dangerous, especially since they often go unnoticed. Complicating matters further, research suggests that smaller hits to the head may add up to serious brain-related problems down the road.
How do you know if what you're experiencing is a possible subconcussive injury? Mental confusion, anxiety, impulsive behavior, and aggression that can't be connected to anything else going on in your life are potential indicators of a head trauma.
Rhabdomyolysis
Because it mimics other familiar side effects of intense exercise, like muscle soreness, rapid heart rate, and nausea, rhabdomyolysis can be easily missed until symptoms worsen. Considered to be an uncommon condition, involving the death of fibers found in muscle tissue, it's now becoming an ongoing problem for athletes who participate in popular obstacle course runs and other programs designed to push the body past its limits.
If you've recently completed a physically demanding exercise regimen or just feel off, get yourself checked out right away to rule out rhabdomyolysis, head trauma, and other potentially dangerous conditions. Milder problems like overuse can be taken care of with a nutrient-rich diet and a week off the practice field, although it's still a good idea to check in with a sports doctor at Personal Foot Care, LLC just in case.
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