Staying fit can sometimes be hazardous to your health - according to a new study into sporting injuries...
Six in ten of the 2,000 people surveyed currently have recurring pain as a result of an injury gained from sport or exercise in the past.
From running injuries and weightlifting catastrophes to strained golf swings, bike crashes and rogue softballs, the study found a third (32 percent) are still experiencing recurring pain from an old injury.
The research examining sporting and exercise woes found that, nearly eight in 10 respondents participate in physical activity at least once a week.
Some bids for sporting glory end before they’ve even started - a quarter (25 percent) have even injured themselves just while warming up, while 45 percent believe they have injured themselves due to a lack of stretching or warming up.
When it comes to the exercise itself, approximately half of the people studied had injured themselves either by moving incorrectly or pulling something (51 and 49 percent, respectively).
The study conducted by OnePoll in conjunction with ThermaCare Ultra Pain Relieving Cream looked into the physical well-being and activity levels of 2,000 Americans and found that over half (52 percent) have injured themselves in a silly or embarrassing way.
Of the weird ways that being get injured or suffer pain, tripping on the sidewalk was the most common- with 39 percent admitting to injuring themselves in this way.
And it appears that there is a theme when it comes to walking and injuring oneself- another 35 percent admitting to hurting themselves by falling down the stairs. And another quarter of the respondents (25 percent) have hurt themselves simply by walking.
After getting injured, 45 percent admit to falling to the ground while another 38 percent simply shake it off and continue the activity like nothing happened.
But it seems that when it comes to sporting injuries, it’s men who can’t seem to handle the pain. Women were more likely than men to continue the sporting activity as if nothing had even happened (44 percent v 33 percent).
With injuries lurking around every corner even for active individuals, it is no surprise that nearly one third of people (31 percent) react to sports injuries by immediately seeking out pain relief products to ease their soreness.
“When it comes to any sporting activity, repetitive stress on muscles, soft tissues and joints can prohibit you from performing at your best, whether you’re a professional athlete or a recreational player,” performance trainer and Golf Digest Fitness Advisor, Ben Shear notes. “In addition to key solutions like a proper warm-up, stretching, rest and hydration, ThermaCare Ultra Pain Relieving Cream is a great addition to a recovery plan when minor injuries or pain strike.”
With all these injuries, it’s no surprise that 32 percent are currently harboring a recurring injury that stops them from participating in their favorite sports or exercise.
But not all injuries happen in the last year, for 66 percent of those studied, still having an injury from high school is a reality.
It turns out that 26 percent of respondents attribute some of their pain to a lack of properly stretching or giving them enough cool down time to recover from physical activity.
And that’s not all that people are attributing their pain to, over half (52 percent) blame themselves for moving incorrectly as a reason for why they have pain while participating in a sport or doing some sort of exercise.
“With 45 percent of people injured at least sometimes when exercising and 82 percent of people at least somewhat likely to push through that pain, the need for an effective pain relief product that will keep people on top of their game is high,” ThermaCare Brand Manager Patrick McCoy said. “ThermaCare Ultra Pain Relieving Cream is the first and only pain relieving cream with four powerful pain fighting ingredients to deliver fast, targeted relief of multiple types of pain for anyone from weekend warriors to occasional exercisers.”
TOP 5 WAYS TO MANAGE PAIN
Over-the-counter pain relievers 71%
Heat pads 60%
Cold packs 58%
Topical pain relief creams or gels 54%
Bandages and supports 52%
TOP 10 ACTIVITIES THAT CAUSE INJURIES
Running 43%
Weight lifting 28%
Biking/cycling 24%
Baseball/softball 23%
Walking 23%
Football 21%
Soccer 19%
Swimming 16%
Bowling 15%
Group fitness/aerobics classes 14%
