Sports and Injuries

Sports and Injuries
Published in the September,2010 Navesink Journal

Summer is over and the new school year is starting. With that begins a new sports season and a spike is sports related injuries. They range from dehydration, sprains, cuts, scrapes to broken bones and knocked out teeth. Many injuries can be prevented, but knowing what to do after the injury is very important for quick healing.

Dehydration
Avoiding dehydration is very important in overall health, but in also helping prevent other injuries. Staying hydrated improves performance and mental acuity. Dr. Michael Colgan suggests drinking 20 oz of water during every hour of exercise. You also should drink another 20 oz after you’re finished. Proper hydration is the key to a good recovery as well. Dr. Colgan says that a 2% decrease in hydration during an athletic event can result in a 20% decrease in performance.

Cuts and Scrapes
Every coach and parent should have a basic first aid kit available in order to treat minor cuts and scrapes. If the cut is bleeding, use a gauze pad and put firm direct pressure on the cut. Have someone call 911 if the cut is bad and stitches are needed.

Broken bones
If the athlete breaks a bone, have someone call 911 immediately. Stabilize the limb. Don’t allow the athlete to move around. Let the paramedics move the athlete safely.

Knocked out teeth
If an athlete knocks out a tooth, time is very important. You only have about 30 min to get a knocked out tooth back in place. The Academy for Sports Dentistry has made a list of things you can do to try to save a knocked out tooth:
1. Call the dentist immediately.
2. Do not handle the tooth by the root. Do not brush or scrub the tooth.
3. If there is debris, gently rinse with water.
4. If possible, try to re-implant the tooth and stabilize by gently biting down on a towel.
5. If not possible to re-implant: a) Place in Hank’s Balanced Saline Solution (Best)
b) Place in milk (2nd best)
c) Wrap tooth in Saline Soaked Gauze (3rd best)
d) Place under athlete’s tongue (4th best) Only if athlete is conscious.
Mouth guards
Mouth guards are a very important part of the athletes equipment. They can help protect the teeth from fractures or from getting knocked out. They also protect the lips from getting cut by the teeth if there is an accidental elbow or ball to the face.
Not all mouth guards are the same. There are three main categories of mouth guards listed below.

Boil and Bite Mouthguards
Boil and Bite mouth guards are the least expensive ( $5-$25)the least stable and least comfortable.
This is why you see so many athletes chewing on their guards between plays. They can’t wait to get them out.

Pressure Laminated Custom Mouthguard
These custom mouth guards fit much better than the boil and bite variety. A dentist takes an impression of your teeth and then vacuum fits the guard on model of your teeth. They are much more stable due to the material they are made with. These are the medium range of prices($75-$400). Prices vary depending on the materials and options.

Performance Enhancing Pressure Laminated Custom Mouth guard
These are the state of the art in custom mouth guards. Most of the SuperBowl Champion New Orleans Saints were wearing them last year. Gold, Silver and Bronze medal winner Bode Miller was wearing one during the Winter Olympics this year. Research has shown that when an athlete is in their most relaxed jaw position, the muscle of the face and neck relax allowing for the athlete to improve balance, flexibility and strength. Improving these areas are incredibly important in almost every sport. Due to the specification and technology involved these are the most expensive mouth guards ($600- $2500).
More information can be found on www.purepowermouthguard-ppm.com , or www.makkaradvantage.com. Also, the August Issue of “Men’s Journal” has a 3 page article on these new appliances.

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