How CBD Goes Hand in
Hand With Basketball
College and professional basketball players go through intense physical training to perfect their skills and defy the gravity to play basketball. Avoiding injuries is a key determinant in athletes wishing to achieve the goals they set at the start of the season. Basketball is a physically intense contact sport involving short and intermittent bursts of activity. |
Research into possible therapies has led to the increasing use of cannabidiol (CBD) for basketball injuries as a natural and safe remedy in this modern age. Here is an insight into common basketball injuries and the benefits of using CBD products to manage and prevent future incidents.
What Are the Common Basketball Injuries?
Ankle Pain Basketball Injuries
An ankle sprain is a fairly common basketball-related injury that arises from the rapid side-to-side movement of players around the court. The injury can also occur when an athlete lands on another player’s foot after jumping to score or block. The impacted area often ends up swelling and may start forming dark bruises.
An injury to the medial and lateral ligaments providing stability to the ankle joint often results in intense pain and decreases joint mobility. Players with a previous history of ankle pain or injury are more prone to future injuries. Wearing high-top shoes, using an ankle brace, or taping the joint helps provide extra ankle support.
Knee Pain Basketball Injuries
Injury to the collateral and cruciate ligaments supporting the knee are common among basketball players. A complete tear to the anterior cruciate ligament is a potentially season-ending injury requiring reconstructive surgery and a long rehab program. A proper neuromuscular training regimen is key to improving knee strength and balance.
Lumbar Strain
Lumbar spinal strain or lower back pain is a common injury among basketball players. It arises from constant bending and repetitive rebounding or jumping. The sudden impact of falling on one’s back also results in pain. The pain may initially be mild and worsen from poor management. Increased strain from vigorous activity and poor stretching may also wear out the back.
Hamstring Strain
Hamstring strain occurs from the painful pull or tear of the three hamstring muscles. It most commonly occurs from increased muscle activity that involves abrupt stopping and running. Basketball players often sprint on hardwood courts that don’t adequately absorb the impact exerted by the hamstrings. Rest and cooling the muscles with ice may be adequate to manage mild hamstring pain. Athletes may need alternative therapies to deal with more serious muscle injuries.
Finger Sprains
Jammed fingers or finger sprain commonly occur after the ball makes sudden contact with the end of an extended finger. It is often painful and accompanied by significant swelling of the finger joint. Taping to adjacent fingers after applying ice may provide some relief. Persistent swelling and pain may decrease a player’s ball-handling capacity and requires proper evaluation.
What Are the Benefits of Using CBD for Basketball Injuries?
CBD Offers Relief to Pain and Inflammation
Basketball players put plenty of strain on their muscles and ligaments during exercises. By interacting with the endocannabinoid system (ECS), CBD can help manage inflammation and promote post-workout muscle recovery. Cannabidiol acts on CB2 receptors to reduce cytokine production, often responsible for muscle inflammation during sports injuries.
Gut irritation may also occur in athletes during high endurance training sessions. By acting on CB1 and CB2 receptors in the large intestine, CBD helps to relieve inflammation and improve appetite.
CBD Is an Alternative to Chronic NSAID Use
Basketball players sometimes consume lots of over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like naproxen, aspirin, diclofenac, and ibuprofen. Although the medication helps manage pain and inflammation arising from sports injuries, its chronic use poses serious side effects.
Long-term NSAID use puts athletes at risk of developing stomach ulcers that may bleed and cause indigestion or anemia. Non-aspirin NSAIDs may increase the chances of stroke or heart attack, especially in athletes going through long and intense training sessions. Other frequent side effects include:
- Blurry vision
- Dizziness
- Photosensitivity
- Ringing ears
- Severe allergic reaction involving a rash, itching, wheezing, chest pain, and fatigue
CBD products provide athletes with an alternative means of relieving pain and inflammation by acting on receptors of the ECS. Using CBD for basketball injuries lowers the risk of the unwanted side effects of overusing NSAIDs.
CBD Is an Alternative to Opioid Use
Opioids like morphine, oxycontin, and codeine are common prescriptions for pain associated with over 42,000 deaths in the U.S. in 2016. Despite effectively managing acute and high-intensity pain, opioids carry a significant risk of dependence and death by overdose. CBD products are a safer and non-addictive alternative for chronic pain management.
CBD Helps to Improve Quality of Sleep
Proper sleep often rejuvenates the body and contributes to greater training gains. CBD acts by reducing adenosine uptake by the brain, which reduces the release of neurotransmitters and slows brain activity. The resulting calming effect helps sleep in athletes who consume CBD products for more restful nights. CBD’s soothing anti-anxiety effect can also be quite helpful before intense season-defining matches and basketball tournaments.
CBD Products to Prevent Basketball Injuries
Best CBD Balm for Pre and Post-Work Out
Basketball players need to warm up and stretch appropriately before hitting the court. Cold muscles are more prone to cause painful strains and sores than properly conditioned muscles. A basketball player can do common warm-up exercises, including jumping jacks, running, or walking in place for a few minutes.
Muscle Mx’s Activate CBD Balm can help in this crucial part of the training exercise. It quickly warms up muscle, ligaments, and tendons to improve the athlete’s chances of reaching peak performance. Meanwhile, Muscle Mx’s Recovery CBD Balm helps to cool tense muscles after an intense training session and provides deep-seated to aching body parts.
CBD Gummies for Muscle Aches
Muscle MX’s CBD Gummies are treats basketball players can take to calm their nerves and relieve aches. The delicious formulation is a blend of Ultra broad-spectrum CBD and natural fruit flavors. The result is a perfect balance of happiness and wellness for improved physical activity.
Best CBD Oil for Athletes
Muscle MX offers an authentic blend of CBD oil preparation of CBD drops and tinctures to support the health of basketball players. It goes through double filtration to create a clean-tasting product that retains its therapeutic properties.
Choose Muscle MX
Basketball involves lots of jumping, blocking, and pivoting. These activities take a toll on the athlete’s body resulting in muscle, ligament, and tendon strains. Muscle MX offers a variety of natural CBD products that can safely manage these basketball-related injuries. Check out Muscle MX’s collection of top-notch CBD products for athletes.