Injuring yourself in any sport is entirely possible, especially when you do not warm-up correctly or take part in a proper cool down. Furthermore, accidents can happen such as trips and problems with equipment so whilst sport should be an enjoyable hobby, it certainly should be seen as potentially dangerous.
Badminton players commonly experience several injuries, and being aware of these can help you to avoid them. This is because knowing what potential hazards are on the court will mean that you can find ways to stop yourself from falling victim to them.
In this article, we are going to be looking at some of the most common injuries that we see on the badminton court and what you can do about them.
How To Avoid Injury?
Before we look into the most common badminton injuries, it is important to think about how we can avoid obtaining an injury in the first place; they say that prevention is better than cure and this could not be more fitting than in a fast-paced game of badminton.
Primarily, muscle injuries and pain can be prevented by taking the time to stretch both before and after your match. There are several excellent badminton warm-ups and cool-down stretches that you can do to ensure that the muscles are in the best condition for sports.
You might also consider not overdoing it. It can be tempting to hop onto the court every day, but it is important to give your body a chance to recover, so taking a rest day is crucial.
Be sure that you are always using the best techniques when playing and don’t try to overexert yourself if you feel that you cannot achieve something.
Finally, if you happen to find yourself inflicted with an injury, do not attempt to continue playing. It might be frustrating to have to take time off, but it is far better to do this than to play through the pain and potentially make the injury worse.
Most Common Badminton Injuries
- Sprained Ankle
- Acute Cruciate Ligament Tears
- Tennis Elbow
- Achilles Tendon
- Shoulder Injury
- Wrist Injuries
- Back Injury
The most common injuries that are obtained by those who play badminton are usually related to the parts of the body that are used most during this game.
Sprained Ankle
Your ankles are one of the most pressured parts of the body when you play badminton, so it is hardly surprising that they are the number one cause for grief when it comes to injuries.
You are continually moving around, and there is a high risk of falling or twisting the ankle. This is mainly down to having to make quick turns and losing balance.
This can be prevented by wearing the correct badminton shoes, but this will not completely eliminate the risk.
Acute Cruciate Ligament Tears
The ACL is found in the knee, and this can quickly become injured when playing badminton, in fact, it is a common complaint of pro badminton players.
Once again, this injury is associated with twists and fast movements that are required from players. Still, it can be prevented by doing a proper warm-up and ensuring that your work on your footwork regularly.
Tennis Elbow
Tennis elbow is a type of repetitive strain injury and is aptly named due to its prevalence in racket sports like tennis, and of course, badminton.
The injury is the result of swelling in the bones and tendons in the elbow and can be very painful. In some cases, it may require ample amounts of rest and could see you out of action for quite some time.
However, if you are smart enough to rest in between games, you will be unlikely to severely suffer from this injury.
Achilles Tendon
The Achilles tendon is located between the lower leg and foot, and this ligament can tear, causing a lot of pain.
If you are squeamish, you might want to take a deep breath because when this tendon snaps, you will likely hear it and then feel copious amounts of pain.
It is a common injury in a lot of sports but can be prevented by a thorough and proper warm-up session.
Shoulder Injury
Your shoulders do a lot of work when playing badminton, so it is little wonder that they are one of the most commonly reported areas for sports injuries.
In the main, injuries in this area are caused by the range of movement during a game, and this puts pressure on the muscle.
Of course, warming up correctly and taking adequate rest periods is one of the best ways to address this problem and prevent it from happening in the first instance.
Wrist Injuries
Straining the wrists is not uncommon for badminton players, and this is primarily as a result of the vast range of movements that this part of the body undergoes during a game.
You may get a diagnosis of repetitive strain injury here, and it is important to rest the area well. In many cases, you will feel the pain coming on gradually, but for some people, there may be a sudden burst of pain.
In order to prevent this type of injury, you should be sure to rest properly and warm-up the wrists before playing.
Back Injury
The back takes on more pressure during a game of badminton than we might think - this is the pillar of our being and every movement we make has an impact on it in one way or another.
The jumps and landings that we do when playing badminton can put a lot of strain on the back and result in pulled muscles and heavy discomfort.
If you find yourself with a back injury, you must be sure to take adequate rest, but it can be prevented by warming up properly.
Conclusion
Badminton is a fast-paced sport that requires a lot of movement, and as a result of this, many players experience a wide range of injuries.
These usually affect the parts of the body that we use most during play such as the ankles, wrists and knees, so it is important to make sure that we warm up correctly to try to prevent any pain or injury.
