More On Back Injury That Forced Naomi Osaka To Withdraw From Japan Open
Naomi Osaka announced that she would not compete in this week’s Japan Open due to a back injury that has also forced her to retire from her last match at the China Open in Beijing. Osaka’s Back Injury At 26, Osaka has shown great form to live up to expectations. However that momentum didn’t carry over into reality as Osaka was matched up against eventual champion Coco Gauff in the last 16, retiring after the second set due to worsening back pain. Osaka complained of a locked back during a practice session prior to playing Gauff so was unsure if she could even play. Despite her willingness to have a go, she aggravated within the context of the game and had to withdraw. Background Information on Back Injuries Back injuries are usually a common and recurring medical problem with athletes, more so with high impact sports like tennis. The injuries can be caused by muscle strain, ligament sprain, herniated discs, or even stress fractures. Common symptoms involve local pain, stiffness, spasm, and loss of motion. Acute injuries occur suddenly with intense activity, while chronic injuries develop gradually from cumulative insult or poor biomechanics. Such is the case of Osaka, whose sudden withdrawal speaks to the vulnerable nature of the back, which easily compromises performance as well as overall well-being. Potent Remedial Measures The most effective treatment for acute injuries to the back will often involve a multi-factor approach. Above all, the athlete must rest; this can help prevent further damage as the body rehabilitates itself. Often, athletes are advised to cease participating in activities that worsen the condition, usually for a number of days to weeks depending on the severity of the injury. Ice therapy assists in the reduction of inflammation while also numbing the area, and heat therapy promotes blood flow and relaxes tight muscles that could be painful. Role of Physical Therapy The level of recovery is helped by physical therapy with a specific program that could focus on strengthening the muscles in the core and the back, improve flexibilities, and enhance stability in general. Techniques may include manual therapy, ultrasound, and specific exercises to help eliminate pain and restore normal function. Secondly, stretching routines can facilitate flexibility and reduce risk of future injury. Medications and Gradual Return to Activity Medication also forms a part of treatment. Analgesics such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, purchased over the counter, can comfort from pain and reduce inflammation. If the athlete experiences intense pain, health care providers will prescribe muscle relaxants or corticosteroids. The athlete needs to progress gradually towards normal activity. Swim or cycle to maintain a condition without too much stress on the back. Sport-specific training, introduced gradually after the pain subsides with professional assistance, is crucial in avoiding re-injury. It is a pity for the fans, but she deserves care and concentration on recovery to come back stronger from this moment on. The whole world of tennis will literally watch her recover and start leading up to the competitions with all the hopes she would return as soon as possible and as strong as possible. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Understanding Whiplash: The Injury That Stunned Harmanpreet
The Indian Women’s Cricket Team had an upper hand over their arch rivals, Pakistan as they picked up those two points in their recent fixture at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024. However, the win came at a massive cost of Indian skipper, Harmanpreet Kaur hurting her neck in the runchase. The injury occurred in the 19th over of India’s innings when Harmanpreet lost her balance while trying to dab a delivery from Nida Dar. The incident, which resulted in whiplash, significantly impacted India’s chances in the match. What Is Whiplash? Whiplash is a common injury in various sports, including cricket. It occurs when the neck undergoes sudden flexion and/or extension, often due to a sudden impact or a forceful change in direction. In cricket, this can happen during a collision, a diving catch, or, more commonly, when a batsman overbalances after hitting a ball. Understanding Whiplash Whiplash is essentially a strain or sprain of the neck muscles and ligaments. The sudden acceleration and deceleration of the head can cause these tissues to become overstretched or torn. Symptoms often appear immediately after the injury, but they can also develop over time. Common Symptoms of Whiplash Neck pain and stiffness: This is the most common symptom, often described as a dull ache or a sharp pain. Headaches: These can be severe and may radiate to the temples or back of the head. Dizziness and light-headedness: Balance problems and a sense of spinning can also occur. Shoulder pain: Pain in the shoulders is common due to the interconnectedness of the neck and shoulder muscles. Limited range of motion: Difficulty turning the head or looking up and down can be a significant issue. Diagnosis and Treatment A healthcare professional, such as a sports medicine doctor or a physiotherapist, can diagnose whiplash based on a physical examination and a detailed history of the injury. Imaging studies, like X-rays or MRI scans, may be necessary to rule out other conditions. Treatment for whiplash typically involves: Rest: Avoiding activities that aggravate the neck pain is important. Ice and heat therapy: Applying ice to the affected area initially can help reduce swelling, while heat can be used later to relax the muscles. Over-the-counter pain relievers: Medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help manage pain and inflammation. Physical therapy: Exercises and stretches prescribed by a physical therapist can help restore neck mobility and strengthen the supporting muscles. Neck collar: In some cases, wearing a soft neck collar can provide support and reduce pain. Prevention While it’s impossible to prevent all whiplash injuries, several steps can be taken to reduce the risk: Proper warm-up: A thorough warm-up before training or matches can help prepare the muscles and joints. Good technique: Learning and practicing proper batting technique can help prevent overbalancing and other factors that contribute to whiplash. Protective gear: While not always practical in cricket, wearing protective equipment, such as a neck guard, can offer additional protection. Long Term Considerations While most whiplash injuries resolve within a few weeks, some individuals may experience persistent symptoms, including chronic pain, limited range of motion, and difficulty concentrating. Rehabilitation A comprehensive rehabilitation program is essential for recovery, focusing on restoring neck mobility, strengthening supporting muscles, and improving posture. Prevention of re-injury Once a whiplash injury has healed, it’s important to take steps to prevent re-injury, such as maintaining good posture, avoiding excessive neck strain, and wearing appropriate protective gear. If you suspect you have whiplash, it’s essential to seek medical attention promptly. Early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent long-term complications and ensure a full recovery. The Sportz Planet Exclusive,Dr. Amol Patil Consultant Sports PhysicianFormer Team Doctor (Indian Boxing Team) | Former Consultant MY&S (Mission Olympic Cell)
Josh Hull Out Of England’s Pakistan Tour With Quad Injury
England’s left-arm seamer Josh Hull is ruled out of the test tour of Pakistan because his persistent quad injury does not recover in time. Hull, suffered the injury during his debut in the last test of the summer against Sri Lanka at The Kia Oval. ECB confirmed on Thursday that Hull will now miss the three-test series that gets underway on October 7th, 2024 in Multan. England do not name any replacement but will instead go into the tour with a 16-man squad. What Is A Quad Injury? A quad injury refers to a strain or tear of the quadriceps muscles. The quadriceps are four muscles at the front side of the thigh and are responsible for straightening the knee and play a vital function in walking, running, and jumping. As a whole, quad injuries occur because of overuse and sudden jerky movements, and trauma, possibly while playing games or undergoing some form of physical activity. A Quad injury can range from mild strains where the muscle fibers are simply overextended up to complete tears that result in severe pain, swelling, and loss of function. Treatment For A Quad Injury This typically includes the RICE protocol: Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. This means that the affected leg should ideally be rested not to compound the damage further, and on applying ice, there is a reduction in inflammation and pain. The swelling can be minimized by elevating the leg and applying compression in the form of an elastic bandage. Once the initial pain subsides, physical therapy and stretching exercises are often initiated. In extreme cases, drug interventions like anti-inflammatory drugs or even corticosteroid injections, surgery, may become necessary. Recovery times are related to the severity of injury while proper rehabilitation avoids later complications. Why Is Hull Special? Hull’s introduction was seen as a step forward to hasten his development and with that 6ft 7in frame and left-arm angle, was something of a test on the opposition batsmen, making the swing into right-handers a real attraction as England’s selectors looked towards longer-term planning for the next Ashes series. Uncertain Future It is unknown whether Hull will travel to New Zealand as part of the team for the tour ahead of England, as he begins his recovery under the supervision of the ECB. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Ter Stegen Tumbles: Surgery Awaits Barcelona’s Safe Hands
It does not happen very often that one has seen goalkeeper stretches off the field. However, Barcelona’s Marc-Andre ter Stegen had such a day that would be erased from the memories when his side thrashed Villarreal 5-1. During the 44th minute, the German shot-stopper went all Superman by leaping to catch a corner kick-and landed like Clark Kent after a rough day. Result: he ended up with a nasty knee injury straight to the surgery table. Ouch. What’s the latest from ter Stegen’s knee? Well, to just say the least: he snapped a tendon. Envision the patellar or quadriceps tendons as the ropes holding your knee together. Snap one of them and your knee is as useful as a door without hinges. The tears usually happen due to awkward landing, and ter Stegen was the poster child for such. Months of Rehab Ahead Now the not-so-good news: surgery’s on the menu for ter Stegen and it’ll be a long haul, folks. Not weeks, but months. So, here’s some good news for Barcelona’s fans- they can get snug with Peña, because he’s going to be holding the fort for some time. Here’s hoping he’s up for the task. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Common Sports Injuries and How Sports Science Helps to Prevent Them
Sports injuries are common at all levels of athletic participation. Understanding these kinds of injuries and appropriating the techniques of sport science can reduce them markedly. Five common types of sports injuries and ways in which sport science can help prevent them are discussed here. 1. Sprains and Strains Sprains are stretches or tears of the ligaments, while strains affect muscles or tendons. These are common in sports that involve quick movements, like soccer or basketball. These could be prevented with proper warm-up exercises, flexibility exercises and strengthening. The science of sports insists upon dynamic stretching before performance and strength training to support the muscle and its ligament. 2. Fractures Bones can fracture in any case of high-impact collision or even just a fall. It can be prevented by improving bone density with proper nutrition, including calcium and vitamin D, along with strength training. Sports scientists call for techniques of land and fall appropriately, hence minimizing risks of fracture. 3. Dislocations These are the forceful displacements of bones from their usual positions and hence are common in contact sports. The use of protection equipment such as braces and pads, and focusing exercises on enhancing joint stability and proprioception, are some recommendations by sports science to avoid dislocations. 4. Tendinitis Generally, this is an injury based on the inflammation of tendons brought about by repetitive stress. Ways to prevent this include optimizing techniques and posture, allowing for reasonable rest, and using sports science techniques to alter the training load and the recovery strategies to avoid the incidence of overuse. 5. Concussions The results of head injuries, such as concussions, are serious. Precautions include properly wearing headgear and encouraging safer playing techniques. Sports science acts to assist in the design of equipment that provides greater shock absorption, as well as designing safe return-to-play protocols. By applying these numerous strategies in training and preparation, athletes will drastically reduce the incidences of these common injuries and substantially improve performance and safety. The Sportz Planet DeskAtharva Shetye
Big Blow For Australia As Hazlewood Is Ruled Out Of Scotland T20I’s
Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has been declared unfit to feature in the upcoming T20I series against Scotland due to a minor calf strain he suffered while training last week. While the injury is not major, Australian selectors have erred on the side of caution in treating Hazlewood’s recovery with care, given the stakes of the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India later this year. However, Hazlewood is expected to be fit in time for the T20Is and ODIs against England in September. Riley Meredith Replaces Hazlewood Riley Meredith has been called up to the squad for the T20Is against Scotland in Hazlewood’s stead. Meredith is a tall right-arm fast bowler who came into the limelight due to his quick pace and ability to extract more bounce than most fast bowlers. He last represented Australia in 2021, and so far he has played 1 ODI and 5 T20Is. The tall pacer has 8 wickets in T20Is with an average of 23.50. While Meredith is a natural wicket-taker, his tendency sometimes to be a bit expensive makes his game quite unpredictable. Solid Domestic Form of Meredith While regularly featuring for the Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League, Meredith has also had spells in English domestic cricket. Following a recent spell with Somerset, he performed well in the Vitality T20 Blast, where he took 14 wickets at an average of 22.78, and six wickets in three matches during the Royal London One-Day Cup; he proved to be a potent white-ball bowler. Australia’s Fast Bowling Woes With Hazlewood out, Australia suffered another blow to its fast bowling, as left-arm pacer Spencer Johnson had already been declared out of the tour of the United Kingdom with an injury. Sean Abbott has been drafted as a replacement for him in the squad. Starc, Cummins, Hazlewood Key for Border-Gavaskar Trophy The Australian team was originally getting ready to unleash its three pacemen who are arguably among the world’s best — Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood — during the UK tour. However, Pat Cummins has been rested for the entire tour, and Mitchell Starc found a place only in the ODI series against England. Upcoming Fixtures It will kick off with a T20I series against Scotland in Edinburgh on September 4. Following the commitment against Scotland, the Australians will head to England to play three T20Is and five ODIs. Focus on the Border-Gavaskar Trophy The Australia management will be hoping to field its full-on pace attack in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy later this year, an important test series against reigning champions India. Australia squad for Scotland T20Is Mitchell Marsh (C), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Riley Meredith, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Wimbledon 2024: Murray Withdraws from Wimbledon Singles, Will Play Doubles
Two-time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray will not compete in this year’s Wimbledon Singles, however he will still team up with his brother Jamie in the doubles event. Murray’s decision came after undergoing surgery to remove a spinal cyst, casting doubt on his participation. What Is a Spinal Cyst? A spinal cyst is a fluid-filled sac that forms in or around the spinal cord or vertebrae. These cysts, which can contain various types of fluid like cerebrospinal or synovial fluid, arise from causes such as spine degeneration, inflammation, congenital conditions, or trauma. Common types include synovial cysts, arachnoid cysts, and Tarlov cysts. Symptoms depend on the cyst’s location and size but often include back pain, sciatica, numbness, weakness, and severe cases can lead to coordination and mobility issues. Impact on Murray and Other Athletes The impact on Murray is something to know about, as tennis involves repetitive movements and high-impact actions that stress the spine. This can contribute to the development or worsening of spinal cysts. Overuse, improper techniques, or insufficient conditioning heighten the risk of spinal problems. Players with back pain or neurological symptoms should seek medical advice to diagnose conditions like spinal cysts and get appropriate treatment, which might range from rest and physical therapy to surgical intervention. Proper warm-up, strengthening exercises, and good posture during play are crucial preventive measures. Murray’s Decision and Future Plans Originally, Murray was scheduled to face Czech player Tomas Machac in the first round on Tuesday, holding the third and final slot on the Centre Court. Despite practicing on Monday and waiting until Tuesday morning to decide, he opted out of the singles event, focusing instead on the doubles tournament with his brother Jamie. “Unfortunately, despite working incredibly hard on his recovery since his operation just over a week ago, Andy has taken the very difficult decision not to play the singles this year,” a statement from Murray’s team read. “As you can imagine, he is extremely disappointed but has confirmed that he will be playing in the doubles with Jamie and looks forward to competing at Wimbledon for the last time.“ No US Open for Murray Murray also recently announced he does not plan to travel to New York for the US Open, which begins on Monday, August 26, 2024. With Andy Murray making a comeback in the doubles event, fans are eager to see him team up with his brother Jamie, hoping their combined experience and skill will lead to success on the grass courts. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Novak Djokovic’s Roland Garros’ Withdrawal: Everything You Need To Know
Novak Djokovic’s run in Paris has come to an abrupt end. The Serb has confirmed that he is withdrawing from the Roland Garros tournament. Reason – a Meniscus tear that led to knee injury. He was due to play the Quarter-Final against Norwegian Casper Ruud. However, the 37-year-old never took to the court. “I am really sad to announce that I have to withdraw from the #RolandGarros,” read Novak’s official statement. Novak Djokovic’s withdrawal meant Italian Jannik Sinner will now become the world number one player come Monday, June 10th. This comes as a triple blow for Djokovic’s fans. First, the injury, second the French Open title defense, and now vacating the world number one spot. The injury looks really bad, at least for someone at 37. Remember, the great Roger Federer could never recover after suffering from them. Despite winning the Roland Garros title three times, Djokovic has always found clay courts to be challenging. This time, the challenge was on and off the court too. In the game against Francisco Cerundolo, Novak kept complaining to the chair umpire, the organisers, that the court is slippery. However, none of them heard his plea. The moment was recorded on camera, and the post went viral. The Serb can be seen mocking the chair umpire and the on-court staff for continuing the match, despite unfavourable conditions. The result – Djokovic’s injury forced him to quit the Roland Garros, right at the business end. What Happens When a Player Withdraws Due to Injury?When a player withdraws from the French Open due to injury, the consequences are immediate and significant. In Djokovic’s case, he sustained the injury during his fourth-round win over Francisco Cerundolo. Despite efforts to continue, the pain and advice from doctors made it clear that he could not proceed. The tournament rules require an immediate withdrawal to protect the player’s health and ensure fair play for the remaining competitors. The audience could clearly see the disappointment on Djokovic’s face as he was forced to leave the court due to the injury. A Disastrous 2024 for DjokovicThe year 2024 has been tough so far for Djokovic. The French Open exit is his second Grand Slam loss of the year. The last time Djokovic faced such a challenging year was in 2017, when injuries plagued his performance and in 2022, when he missed tournaments due to not receiving a COVID-19 vaccination certificate. What is Meniscus Injury?Djokovic withdrew due to a tear in the medial meniscus of his right knee. The meniscus is a piece of cartilage in the knee that can cause severe pain when torn. This type of injury is common among athletes and can result from either a sudden event or gradual wear and tear. Treatment options vary, ranging from physical therapy to surgery, depending on the severity of the tear. Djokovic and his team are currently considering the best course of action. What Djokovic and His Team Are Saying?Djokovic’s team has expressed frustration over the court conditions at Roland Garros. The constant rain followed by quick shifts to dry conditions made the courts slippery, which Djokovic believes contributed to his injury. He confirmed on Instagram that the decision to withdraw was made after careful consideration and consultation with his team. Implications for Djokovic and His ReturnIt is uncertain when Djokovic will return to tennis. Recovery from a meniscus tear can be lengthy, especially if surgery is required. Even if he recovers quickly, his performance might be affected. Djokovic’s focus will likely be on the upcoming Wimbledon and the Olympics, where he hopes to win his first gold medal. Impact on the French OpenDjokovic’s exit leaves the top half of the draw wide open, giving players like Casper Ruud, Alexander Zverev, and Alex de Minaur a better chance to advance. For the first time since 2016, there will be a new winner of the French Open. Jannik Sinner is set to become the new ATP Tour world No. 1, achieving this milestone for the first time in his career. Also Read: Challenges for the French Open OrganizersThe French Tennis Federation (FFT) faces criticism for the court conditions. Djokovic’s camp has expressed strong feelings about the lack of response to the dangerous playing conditions. The tournament must handle the potential PR nightmare if Zverev, who is facing legal issues, wins the championship. What the Players Think?Djokovic’s withdrawal has disrupted the tournament schedule, affecting players and spectators. Some argue for the reinstatement of Francisco Cerundolo, the player Djokovic defeated, to maintain the tournament’s integrity. However, this idea is controversial, as it contradicts the principle that matches are decided by performance on the court. Novak Djokovic’s withdrawal from Roland Garros due to a torn meniscus has far-reaching implications for him, the tournament and the sport. As he focuses on recovery, the tennis world eagerly awaits his return and the resolution of the current French Open. Will Djokovic manage to recover on time for the Wimbledon in July? The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
