There is a common misconception that the NFL carries the highest risk of injury because of it being a high-impact contact sport. In reality, Major League Baseball has as serious an injury problem, which results in the sport losing millions of dollars in productivity every year. The year has only just started, and most of the major teams in Chicago have already seen a number of top players sidelined due to injury. Although not all players recover at the same rate, and some never return to their former pre-injury glory, the majority are able to continue playing and forge lucrative careers for themselves.
UCL injuries may require surgery
The ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) is a common problem area for baseball players and one that can cause extreme pain and discomfort in the elbow and lower arm. The fact that White Sox righty Michael Kopech missed the entire 2019 season due to a UCL tear indicates just how severe these types of injuries can be. While some minor cases may be treated non-surgically with physical therapy and medication, continuous instability of the elbow may make an operation a necessity. Supplementing with Glucosamine can help boost recovery time from a UCL injury, as it has a reputation for not only reducing join degeneration but helping in the creation of cartilage, tendons, and ligaments as well. GHRP-2 and Thymosin Beta 4 are peptides that are effective in aiding recovery. GHRP-2 side effects are also believed to be far milder and less prevalent than that of hGH, making it a potential option for some athletes.
Rotator cuff tears
Rotator cuff tears are extremely painful injuries that are more prevalent among pitchers and are generally caused by repetitive shoulder motions. Tears to the rotator cuff cause intense pain in the affected shoulder while also rendering it substantially weaker than normal. Although minor tears may heal without surgical intervention, surgery is often necessary to ensure that full mobility returns to the arm. Physical therapy and the inclusion of protein-dense food sources and a protein supplement (such as Whey or Casein) in the diet can also help boost recovery. The White Sox’s Gio Gonzalez is currently struggling with a cuff injury, although surgery is not on the cards as yet. During the second half of last year, Sox manager, Rick Renteria, also had to undergo surgery to his right rotator cuff after battling with injury for quite some time.
Knee injuries plague many players
Of all the possible knee injuries a baseball player can endure, sprains and tears of the medial collateral ligament (MCL) are the most common. Both MCL and ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injuries are extremely painful and can result in a player being sidelined for a considerable amount of time. While surgery may very well be required for severely-torn ACLs or MCLs, mild to moderate injuries may be able to heal without invasive surgical procedures. Physical therapy and anti-inflammatories can go a long way to speed up the recovery process, as can the use of Omega-3 supplements that can reduce inflammation as well as speed up the healing process.
A career-ending injury is any pro baseball player’s worst nightmare. Thankfully, through advanced medical technologies and responsible supplementation, it is now significantly easier to deal with any type of injury.
