Joint and cartilage injuries heal very slowly or sometimes never, and treatment can be very difficult. Joint injuries can result from years of heavy exercise (wear-and-tear effect) or from a sudden eccentric movement.
Description: Joint and Cartilage Injuries
What are joints and what is cartilage?
- Joints are the movable connections between our bones.
- Cartilage is a soft tissue that prevents bones from rubbing against each other and helps our skeleton move smoothly with minimal friction.
- Ligaments hold the joint structure together, while tendons and muscles enable movement.
If I cared only about muscles and sports, I would say the skin is just our insulation… Just kidding! :)
How Joint and Cartilage Injuries Occur
1. Wear-and-Tear Injuries (Overuse)
- After years of heavy exercise, joints and cartilage lose flexibility.
- Exercise can become painful, as cartilage becomes more brittle and joints are more prone to inflammation.
- The more sudden injuries you experience during your active career, the earlier you may suffer irreversible joint wear.
- Prevention tips:
- Avoid joint inflammation when you are young
- Always warm up and stretch before exercising
- Eat a healthy diet
- Apply ice after heavy workouts to calm inflammation and reduce pain
2. Sudden Joint or Cartilage Injuries
- Examples include:
- Shoulder dislocation with cartilage tearing
- A fragment of bone and cartilage breaking off
- Squatting too heavy or landing hard after a jump, damaging cartilage
- These injuries usually require medical attention and complicated treatment
Advice: Prevention is the Best Medicine
- Warm up properly before exercise
- Stretch before workouts
- Stop immediately if you feel pain (pain is a signal to stop)
- Avoid eccentric and heavy movements that put excessive stress on your joints
