Hand Injuries in Sport in Ireland Hand Injuries in Sport in Ireland: In this post, I will be discussing Hand Injuries that happen in Irish sport, and just to highlight this injury. Roscommon Senior Footballer, Conor Cox @RoscommonGAA @clubrossie recently sustain a hand injury which means he will miss a lot of this Roscommon’s National Football League Division 2 campaign. This blog will inform you of the bones and other parts of the hand and also the various injuries that can happen. Hand Injuries in Sport – CARPEL TUNNEL SYNDROME This is a common Hand injury both in sport and outside sport. It causes: Pain Pins and needles Numbness Tingling Which occur in the hand and arm. These causes are Just to name a few.  It happens when the main nerve (#Median) going to the hand or in the hand become compressed as it travels through the wrist. If got on time and treatment is given on time then recovery is easier and quicker, however, if it isn’t got on time and it persists and gets worse, then surgery may be required and prolongs recovery.  If it is not treated then it can lead to weakness as well as a lack of coordination in the fingers and thumb and will lead to further complications and will become a long term issue and the person will not be able to play sport or work until fully recovered.  Treatment will help ease the pressure and relieve symptoms.  Heavy lifting and any tasks involving lifting or use of the hand are to be avoided. Repetitive movement for long periods at a time without a break can be one reason why this occurs. Hand Injuries in Sport – SPRAINS A sprain occurs when the ligaments in the hand become damaged due to Over stretching in sport or in life The ligament(s) are partially torn The ligament(s) are fully torn This means flexion is hard to do in order to perform even the most minor tasks. How sprains can happen A fall from a height or in sport such as Gaelic Football or Hurling when you catch the ball after jumping high for a ball and you land on your feet but lose balance and fall and you put your hand out to break your fall A common injury with goalkeepers in Gaelic Football and Hurling when they are going up for the ball and the goalkeeper doesn’t get a clean catch it can force the fingers/hand back so far to an unnatural position which cases hyperextension that causes damage to the ligament(s) also in the case of a Gaelic Football or soccer goalkeeper where the ball is coming in high and the goalkeepers fingers/hand is near the crossbar and the finger/hand is caught between the crossbar and the ball as the ball comes at pace toward the goal. In Gaelic football where the goalkeeper is trying to prevent the ball from going over the bar for a point. This impact causes shock and as a result the fingers and or hand swells. And to an outstretched hand or arm that is how it can occur. This results as I said in: Pain Swelling Bruising The length of time depends a lot on if the ligament is overstretched or torn and the extent of the injury.  When this occurs it is best to: Do not continue to play if you are playing a match or whatever task you are doing, do not continue as to do so will aggravate the injury and will lengthen recovery time. Rest for 24 to 48 hours, in some cases depending on the extent of the injury then maybe more. Immediately apply ice to reduce the swelling Apply a support bandage Keep the hand raised as much keep above the heart using a pillow when laying down or the back of an armchair if sitting down. In addition, take anti-inflammatory pain killer however ask your chemist for advice telling him or her if you have an allergy to any of the ingredients in the pain killer. If the injury is severe enough a splint or cast may be required   Hand Injuries in Sport – THUMB SPRAIN This occurs when the ligament(s) become hyperextended (overstretched) to an unnatural position beyond their limits or are torn.  A Thumb Splint will help for this and can be bought in all good pharmacies. Or a cast.  For further advice ask your GP, Pharmacist, Physio, Sports Therapist.  The Splint or cast will keep the thumb in its natural position while the thumb is healing and do not remove until fully healed.  If there is no improvement or it gets worse, then contact one of the above for further advice. It is advised until healed, no heavy lifting, if you are a player then do not play or train until you get the go-ahead from the team Sports Therapist/Physio/Doctor says you can return to playing status.  For more severe injuries, surgery may be required in more extreme circumstances.   [Tweet “Hand Injuries in Sport – CARPEL TUNNEL SYNDROME #healthcare #sports #injuries“]                                                      WRIST SPRAINS Wrist Sprains are usually contributed to tasks that are repetitively performed for long periods and or when a player or athlete is falling, it is natural to put out your hand to break your fall, this can occur in Rugby, or Gaelic Football or Hurling where or in soccer where goalkeepers are saving shots when there is a powerful shot or puck and the player or goalkeeper is trying to catch the ball or sliotar the power and momentum of the shot pushes the hand back or the ligaments become overstretched. Like the above Sprains, rest is key to the injury and anti-inflammatory and or ice is required to reduce pain and swelling. It is a common injury that, when treated on time is easy to recover from

KINESIOLOGY TAPING FOR ATHLETES & PLAYERS IN IRELAND  This week’s blog post is about Kinesiology Taping which is one of the services I provide to my patients/clients. I will be doing blogs in the coming weeks on each of the other services I provide at AR Sports Therapy Clinic What are the Benefits of Kinesiology Taping Kinesiology Tape is very good as part of recovery for muscular and other injuries. BECAUSE it gives pain relief, improves circulation which speeds up recovery time and it also provides support for the injury. As part of a course I did 7 years ago and it was a very useful course as it showed the many injuries that Kinesiology Taping can be used for and how to apply the tape for each injury. You may have seen while watching Rugby, Soccer, Gaelic Football, Hurling and other sports, players having the taping on them. Kinesiology Taping can be used for treating many injuries such as: Carpel Tunnel Syndrome Shoulder Injuries Rotator Cuff Injuries Elbow Injuries Wrist injuries Hip Flexor injuries Hamstring Injuries Quad Injuries Patella Tendonitis injuries and other knee injuries Achilles Injuries Ankle injuries Calf injuries I have used Kinesiology Tape in most if not all of the above injuries and the amount of injuries it can be used for is not limited to the above list, there are many more injuries it can be used for. The first injury I used it for was Carpel Tunnel Syndrome.  When the Client came to me it was at the early stages of Carpel Tunnel Syndrome.  Carpel Tunnel Syndrome is where the main nerve going into the wrist and hand is compressed limiting sensation to the hand.  some of the symptoms include Pain in the wrist or hand pins and needles numbness However, for best recovery outcomes, Kinesiology Taping has to be applied correctly as there are certain percentages of stretches you have to apply to give the best result so as to give the best possible chance of recovering from the injury. The above symptoms are just 3 that can and are experienced.  Carpel Tunnel Syndrome can be treated without surgery if it is treated at the early stages, if it is left a long time before treatment, surgery is required. If not treated on time, more severe symptoms may result.  Rest and no heavy lifting physical or manual work while recovering as to do so will aggravate the injury and lead to further complications.  If you think you may have Carpel Tunnel Syndrome then go to your GP, Physio, Sports Therapist for treatment and advice and if required, possible referral. As I said, I have used Kinesiology Taping on numerous players, Athletes, Clients and Patients and each of them found it very beneficial. You can get Kinesiology Tape, the proper tape, you can get it cheaper in certain supermarkets, but it won’t be as good as the proper tape you get from a chemist or pharmacy or if you order directly online from the manufacturer. I am trained in applying the tape and I have a high level of experience in applying it so it is better to get your Physio or Sports Therapist to apply it.  You can apply it yourself if you have applied it before or have been shown how to apply it by your physio or Sports Therapist.  If you haven’t done it before or you are not confident applying it, it is best to get your Physio or Sports Therapist to do it. If you do not apply the right amount of stretch when applying it as in, if you don’t put enough stretch in the tape it won’t be of any benefit or help to the injury and may inhibit and make the injury worse. If you put too much stretch in will make the injury worse and may affect circulation.  If applied right, Kinesiology Taping gives so many benefits which will help AS PART OF THE RECOVERY PROCESS. Only use after consulting your Physio or Sports Therapist and getting advice from them.    Thank you for reading this week’s blog on Kinesiology Taping for the Athlete/Player. I hope you found it interesting, helpful and informative.   If you have any questions on Kinesiology Taping or you need advice then feel free to contact me on arsportstherapyclinic@outlook.ie or send a text or WhatsApp message to 0894304496. If you have an injury and would like me to do a blog post about it –   let me know and I would be delighted to cover it in an upcoming blog post.

– MEDIAL KNEE PAIN or SPRAIN (MCL SPRAIN) MEDIAL KNEE PAIN or SPRAIN (MCL SPRAIN) is a common sports occurrence, Medial knee pain is pain that occurs on the inner side of the knee and can be due to a number of problems. It may come on gradually over time or may develop suddenly after a knee injury. It may be a general inner knee pain, movement may be restricted or there may be a sharp pain. It is very common to get pain on the medial side of the knee, because muscle weakness and/or tightness (which is very common) can subtly change the way the knee moves. This causes more force to go through the inner side of the joint, rather than distributing weight evenly through the whole joint, which results in damage to the inner side of the knee and therefore medial knee pain. MEDIAL KNEE PAIN or SPRAIN (MCL SPRAIN) – Common causes of medial knee pain include; An injury caused by a sport or exercise, such as running, that puts a strain on the knee joint. Where a person has fallen on their knee or been in an accident. Where there has been excessive twisting and tearing of the MCL I treated a player on the Midlands Schoolboys League team that took part in the 2017 Kennedy Cup in UL in Limerick. I diagnosed it and treated the player and he made a successful recovery Useful web article: medicalnewstoday [Tweet “Medial Knee pain is a more common sports injury than you might think!”]

Mental Health in Sport in Ireland – Challenges Mental Health in Sport in Ireland maybe a topic that has not got the consideration it deserves in the context of mental health awareness here in Ireland. Awareness about Mental Health is increasingly important in modern society. People can underestimate the effects it can have on a person. It doesn’t just affect people in a certain sector of society. It can happen to people in anyone right across the social spectrum. It can affect wealthy, middle class, poor, people in the health sector due to long hours and being overworked, carers, managers, the elderly young people middle-aged people in a rocky relationship. No one knows what is going on in another person’s life. For years, there has been a stigma attached to mental health and as a result in the past people who have mental health issues were very reluctant to come out and speak to a person about the issues and problems they have to be it pressure at work, being bullied at school, cyberbullying. Its a tough time in life for teenagers and studios so many changes going on and pressures and students in teenage years in school there are junior cert and leaving cert years, both studying for exams doing the exams and then the days leading up to getting the results. Leaving cert more so the leaving cert as those results decide if you get into university to do your first choice course and what jobs you get when you leave school. Nowadays also the way things are in Ireland the pressure couples are under jobwise with companies closing down people lose their jobs result in financial pressures like paying rent and or mortgage, food bills, heating, educating kids, books, uniforms car maintenance, etc all these things can affect mental health. But nowadays thanks to society being more accepting and the investment in education on mental health and organisations like the Samaritans, people feel they can come out and talk about their pressures and problems. The one thing I want everyone to take from this article is if you have any issues or problems remember is ok not to be ok. Talk to a friend or family member or counselling there are so many options out there the hardest thing is taking that first step. After that, it’s getting that bit easier day by day. People don’t realise the consequences that happen suicide is common in society. But thankfully nowadays there is help available and all that needs to happen is to avail of those services. That reduces suicide figures. If you get upset and it’s hard to deal with the pressures in life it is not a sign of weakness to ask for help….it takes a strong person to ask for help. To anyone going through issues and problems at the moment, you are not alone turn to someone. As mentioned above, mental health can affect people from all walks of life and in society, today life is very hard and fast-paced so it is essential that we help one another to get through. A problem shared is a problem halved. Also with mental health, sometimes it’s the little thing that can help in dealing with problems and getting through tough times. Another event that can cause stress is where someone has lost a family member like a mother or father, brother or sister aunt or uncle grandmother or grandfather or cousin or even a close family friend or best friend I like everyone else have been through it. My mother passed away of cancer and my best mate was knocked down by a car and passed away when I was a child. Grandparents etc to. It was a tough time for me but also my family. And myself and my family’s aren’t the only people to go through that people all over the world go through it. We were lucky we had each other and good friends to help us through. [Tweet “Mental Health in Sport in Ireland – We Need Awareness that Sports people in Ireland Can Need Help Too!”] Everyone has their own mechanisms for getting through tough times or pressures or problems going on in their lives. Listening to music, going for walks, going to see a movie, go on a holiday, talk to others. Mental health can be overlooked and its effects underestimated, but in fact, it is quite complex. Mental Health in Sport in Ireland – Injury In my job as a sports therapist I would have to say that mental health issues in sport are more common than many think. There are many reasons why there are mental health issues in sport. Sport has changed so much over the years in so many aspects. Along with these changes come added pressure on both managers, coaches and players. In Gaelic football and hurling years ago preparations weren’t as advanced as nowadays. You turn up for training twice a week. You do stretches, followed by laps of the pitch then sprints as ball drills and then a training game. You turn up on match day the manager pics the starting 15 you go out and you win or lose. Nowadays as I just mentioned are so many extra pressures on players coaches and management. So many aspects and methods of preparations have been added and doing them all or only doing a few can be the difference between winning and losing. At club and county level success is the only thing. It’s everything to supporters and players and management and coaches. If a club team or county team don’t win games never mind not winning cups means for managers and coaches get sacked and players get dropped either from the starting 15 or even worse, the panel. That’s before you add the criticism from the press. These are things the modern club and county players have to face as well as managers and coaches. The workload on players and management has

Plantar Heel Pain – PLANTAAR FASCITIIS – More Common Than You Would Expect Plantar Heel Pain or Plantaar Fascitis is a more common injury in sport than people think. It can be caused by the different surfaces that players and athletes train or play on like indoor or futsal surface which is wooden, as well as AstroTurf pitches etc. There are other causes too. I have treated a number of players and athletes with Plantaar Fascitis but most recently a player from the Ireland Diabetic Futsal squad that I work with. It can the treated by either applying kinesiology tape or getting a rolling pin and glass bottle and rolling it along the sole of the foot or a combination of both. The player recovered well and was happy with the treatment Plantar Heel Pain – PLANTER FASCIITIS – In Medical Terms Plantar fasciitis also known as Plantar Heel Pain (PHP) is a painful inflammatory  process of the plantar fascia, the connective tissue or ligament on the sole of the foot. It is often caused by overuse of the plantar fascia, increases in activities, weight or age. It is a very common condition and can be difficult to treat if not looked after properly.  Longstanding cases of plantar fasciitis often demonstrate more degenerative changes than inflammatory changes, in which case they are termedplantar fasciosis. The suffix “osis” implies a pathology of chronic degeneration without inflammatory. DIAGNOSIS: The diagnosis of plantar fasciitis is usually made by clinical examination alone.  The clinical examination may include checking the patient’s feet and watching the patient stand and walk. The clinical examination will take under consideration a patient’s medical history, physical activity, foot pain symptoms and more. The doctor may decide to use imaging studies like X-ray, diagnostic ultrasound and MRI. Heel bone with heel spur An incidental finding associated with this condition is a jheel spur, a small bony calcification on the calcans heel bone, in which case it is the underlying plantar fasciitis that produces the pain, and not the spur itself. The condition is responsible for the creation of the spur; the plantar fasciitis is not caused by the spur.  Sometimes ball-of-foot pain is mistakenly assumed to be derived from plantar fasciitis. A dull pain or numbness in the metatarsal region of the foot could instead be metatarsalgia, also called capsulitis. Some current studies suggest that plantar fasciitis is not actually inflamed plantar fascia, but merely an inflamed flexor digitorum brevis muscle (FDB) belly. Ultrasound evidence illustrates fluid within the FDB muscle belly, not the plantar fascia.     [Tweet “Plantar Heel pain is a more common sports injury than you might think!”]