The Most Harmful Sports For Joints

It’s no mystery that being active, energetic, and exercising on a daily basis is critical to our long-term health. Certain sports, on the other hand, can be hard on our hip and knee joints, resulting in increased joint health and mobility over time. These are usually high-impact sports that demand the knee joint to sustain substantial or repetitive shocks or twisting actions. 

So when the damage is done, how does our body repair itself? Collagen plays a critical function in the ability of your joints to move, even if you aren’t aware of it. Collagen can be found in your skin, bones, and organs, but one type of collagen is present in the cartilage among your joints – Type II Collagen. In this article, we will be looking into which sports are the most harmful for your joints and the role collagen plays in supporting your body through its healing process.

Collagen

Collagen is currently available in a variety of places and is constantly promoted as a nutrient that will improve everything from your hair and nails to your aching joints – it almost seems too good to be true. 

Collagen supplements are becoming increasingly popular, and for good reason as it’s a crucial protein that the body needs. It’s even been dubbed “one of the body’s hidden building components,” and it could be excellent news for aching, stiff joints. Ultimately, collagen may assist in the smoother and less painful movement of your joints.

The tissue that spans over the edges of your bones and lies in the centre of your joints, known as articular cartilage, contains type II collagen. This cartilage is responsible for allowing joints to glide, bend, and move freely. Collagen keeps cartilage flexible, absorbs shocks, and keeps your joints well-supported. 

Articular cartilage, on the other hand, diminishes with age. Years of grinding joints against cartilage wears it down, causing aches and pains. There’s also the issue of collagen loss, which comes with age. Collagen is naturally lost, with the body holding on to less and less as time goes on.

When your collagen levels drop, your joints may suffer as a result. Decreased collagen levels can cause cartilage and tendons to loosen, increasing the risk of injury.

The health of the cartilage can be jeopardised if you don’t get enough collagen. Osteoarthritis, for example, is a joint-centric ailment that can become a growing danger. In fact, research reveals that the loss of collagen associated with ageing can increase the risk of degenerative joint problems. 

However, reintroducing collagen into your body, whether through food or supplementation, may help to mitigate this risk. It might even assist you get rid of any joint pain you’re having, especially as a result of any intense exercise or sports activity.

The Sports Of Destruction

Osteoarthritis (by definition) is a degeneration of joint cartilage and the underlying bone, most common from middle age onward. It causes pain and stiffness, especially in the hip, knee, and thumb joints. Usually, it is advised that high impact sports should be avoided by anyone who has osteoarthritis, a genetic history of osteoarthritis, or past leg injuries. If that isn’t an option, extra precautions must be taken, such as strengthening the muscles surrounding the joint, regularly warming up thoroughly, and maintaining good form and balance while playing. In no particular order, here are some of the sports we believe pose the highest risk of damage to the joints in your body.

Skiing

A fall is among the most prevalent ways to hurt a knee or hip. Skiing is one of the most dangerous activities due to the great risk of falling, especially when the slopes are slippery or lumpy. Skiing, even if you don’t fall, puts force on both knees if your technique is poor, which can lead to joint injury over time. 

If skiing is a must-do in your life, pay attention to your form and avoid harmful leaps. Don’t clench your knees, make the muscles all around the knee active to absorb any shocks, and stay away from dangerous jumps.

Basketball 

Basketball is a high-octane sport that requires quick stops, pivots, and hops. The continuous shocks and twists place stress on the body’s shock absorbers, the knees. Although the bulk of basketball injuries occur in the ankle and foot, the fast-paced nature of the game can also result in a hip labral tear or hip pointer. People who play basketball frequently and at a high intensity are more likely to develop osteoarthritis over time, so keep your long-term health in mind as you prepare for a game.

Tennis Singles 

It’s very common for tennis players to have physical discrepancies between their upper and lower body, as a result of repetitive upper-body motions. The knees are strained by the brief bursts of sprinting with frequent abrupt stops, while the hips provide strength to the forces clutching and swinging the racket. The best method to avoid injury is to warm up thoroughly and avoid abrupt pauses while sprinting – this entails slowing down before coming to a complete stop and then halting with your knees unlocked, which puts greater strain on the muscles around the joint. You might want to consider playing doubles so that you don’t have to move around quite as much.

Weight Room Exercises + Plyometric Exercises 

Plyometric exercises entail a lot of jumping and the application of ultimate load in rapid succession (ex: burpees, lunges, jump squats). The knee absorbs the impact of a jump landing, making these weight-bearing joints particularly strained. 

Lower-body weight-room activities are especially taxing on the hips since maintaining good form can be challenging. Always begin your sessions with lighter weights before progressing to heavier weights, and always take time to stretch your muscles afterward.

There is no definite way to practise a sport that will keep you safe from injury, especially if you compete; but seeing your doctor or a fitness expert before doing so will help you become more aware of the hazards to your body and more prepared to take precautions. Warm up well before starting physical exercise and stop promptly if you experience intense pain. 

In your fitness routine, strive for balance & alternate between weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing exercises. 

Even if you have or are likely to develop osteoarthritis, there are a variety of low-impact things you can engage in that pose no danger. Nothing is straightforward when it comes to your long-term health, however it’s important to be active to preserve a healthy body, so keep an eye out for motions that could cause more harm than good.