If you played sports in your youth, have kids who play sports, or have any experience coaching recreational or youth teams, you most likely have some level of familiarity with sports injuries.
According to the Stanford Children’s hospital, you might be surprised to learn that 30 million children and teens participate in organized sports in the US, which results in more than 3.5 million injuries annually. Also, the CDC has concluded that high school athletes alone are responsible for two million injuries, half a million doctor’s visits, and more than 30,000 hospitalizations on an annual basis.
Every sport has characteristic injuries that players tend to experience most often, simply because each game has different movements and mechanisms that lend themselves to various potential injuries.
Let’s examine the most common injuries associated with fall and winter sports and look at some quick and effective treatments for a few of them.
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Football
No, we are not talking about European Football. American football is one of the most popular games in North America, but as a contact sport, it also exposes players to a range of common injuries, including:
- Concussions or head trauma
- Knee injuries (dislocations, ACL tears, etc.)
- Ankle injuries (ligament issues, fractures, Plantar Fasciitis)
Cold compression can help reduce the pain and swelling from a sprained ankle or a blow to the knee. And if you, your child, or a player you’re coaching suffers a pulled muscle or pinched nerve, heat therapy can help restore blood flow to increase flexibility and reduce tension and stiffness.
Try our multi-use joint pain pack for a sprain or blow to the joint. It provides targeted relief to injured joints and can be securely attached. It’s effective, easy to use, and highly reliable.
And, of course, make sure you never get complacent about protective equipment while playing football.
Swimming
Overuse injuries are the most common injuries among swimmers, which isn’t surprising given that the sport is based on speed and endurance and features fast repetitive motions.
Some of the most frequently seen injuries among swimmers of all levels include:
- Knee swelling and inflammation (called “Breaststroker’s Knee” by swimmers)
- Shoulder overuse and over-rotation injuries
- Hip issues
While NSAIDs can help relieve symptoms of injuries, a much more natural pathway to recovery is to apply cold to reduce swelling and pain in acute injuries and heat to promote blood flow, restore flexibility, and reduce pain as you heal.
Our universal reusable hot and cold compress wrap features self-adhering velcro straps, so you can effortlessly apply heat or cold anywhere, including large body parts like your back or legs.
Ice Hockey
Ice hockey is similar to football because many injuries stem from its inherent nature as a high-contact sport.
Even if you or your players wear all the appropriate protective gear, some risks can’t be completely eliminated, such as:
- Dental injuries such as chipped, fractured, or displaced teeth
- Broken, fractured, or sprained wrists
- Abdominal, spleen, kidney, or liver injuries
- Shoulder injuries like AC separations and broken clavicles
You can help prevent dental injuries by using face masks and mouth guards. The risk of shoulder, abdominal, and organ injuries can be lowered by wearing appropriate protective gear.
Hockey is a highly physical sport. Using heat therapy before getting on the ice can help keep your muscles loose and limber to play at your best and stand up to the “beating” they might encounter during a game. Our XL Hot and Cold Gel Pack can relieve large areas commonly affected by hockey, such as the back and legs.
And hopefully, this goes without saying, but it’s essential to wear a helmet to mitigate your risk of severe head trauma.
Soccer
Soccer is different from hockey because most of the injuries that occur in hockey occur in the player’s upper body, while most injuries in soccer involve the lower body.
The most common injuries in soccer include:
- Sprained ankles
- Hamstring and adductor sprains
- Knee injuries
Cold compression is very effective at reducing the pain associated with these injuries and can help limit inflammation so you can heal faster and start playing again sooner.
Our instant cold pack wrap is your on-the-go solution for soccer injuries. It doesn’t require refrigeration, so it’s easy to store and use whenever and wherever you need it.
Heat And Cold Therapy: When To Use Each
It’s important to know when it’s most effective to apply heat therapy to an injury and when to use cold therapy.
Regardless of which sport you play, cold therapy should mainly be used on acute injuries such as bruises and bumps, sprains and strains, or anything else from immediate pain. For a deeper dive into this topic, check out this blog.
Cold therapy is effective in these circumstances because it reduces swelling and can offer much-needed pain relief.
On the other hand, heat therapy loosens up your body to provide relief from the stiffness and lingering soreness that’s often part of dealing with sports injuries.
Unlike cold therapy, applying heat to injured or sore areas promotes blood flow, enhancing mobility and relaxation in injured areas of the body.
Remember, when you’re dealing with a sports injury, the quickest and best way to facilitate recovery is by using cold and heat therapy at the appropriate times and for the right reasons.
Private or Rapid Relief Brand Options Available
Hot and cold therapy products have long been the choice for natural pain relief by athletes, coaches, and parents. We work with schools and sports teams, and other suppliers worldwide to offer them private label solutions as our well-known Rapid Relief branded solution to distribution and retail establishments. Additionally,, we offer wholesale options to help you reduce costs and provide superior customer satisfaction with a stable supply chain. Our expertise in R&D, in-house testing, and quality management will assure you we stand by the quality of products.
Take Care Of Yourself
It may sound cliche, but winning isn’t everything. If you don’t properly take care of yourself before, during, and after your practices and games, you won’t stay at your best for very long.
Take care of yourself, and play better for the long run with Rapid Aid’s line of hot and cold therapy products for wrists, shoulders, knees, backs, and more. If you are interested in our products, contact us today to request a quote.
