Tips to Avoid Injuries in Rugby

Rugby is considered to be one of the most violent sports activities. Rugby traumas and injuries can sometimes be very serious, since this game demands a high amount of physical energy. Known rugby injuries include shoulder, knee and ankle joint injuries, concussion and spinal injury. The most dangerous is the spinal cord injury – although it is rare, its results may be catastrophic.

The reasons which lead to injuries of rugby players are numerous – some refer to the nature of the game, other are more general. Lack of playing and training time may result in more or less serious injuries. One of the common reasons is the lack of a technique, of specific information, explaining how to protect the player’s body from being injured.

Since rugby is a contact sport, injury risks are related to physical contact, primarily in tackle. Most rugby accidents involve the players’ arms and hands, shoulders and back. There is also risk of fractures in the head, shoulders, arms, hands, or legs. The lack of defense in rugby, contrary to American Football, where the players use helmets, may result in head injuries.

Another reason for injuries in sports is carelessness combined with high level of adrenalin. It is known for a fact that careless player endangers not only himself but the players around him. However, the adrenalin burning in veins of young players and the desire to win the game, often results in injuries, when the players forget about the need to “play safe”.

Rugby, as every other sport, demands dedication and hard training. However, it is important to follow the rules and play carefully, in order to avoid injuries.

By Marcia

Stay Fit With Roller Skates

Roller skates have always been recommended to fitness freaks. They can also be a fun yet eco-friendly form of transportation. Roller skates enable the skater to travel on boots that are generally fitted with three, four or sometimes five wheels. Roller skates have two basic designs:

Quad Roller Skates: A shoe that has been fitted with four wheels on its sole to glide swiftly on a floor.

Inline Skates or Blades: These skates have three, four or even five wheels arranged in single line. Sometimes inline skates feature a rear break.

Roller skating has evolved from a pastime to a sport activity due to its popularity. Roller skating is also recommended by the American Heart Association (AHA) as an aerobic fitness sport. Taking long strides can help increase the heart rate and strengthen the back muscles. Studies have shown that roller skating is equivalent to jogging or cycling and engages all of the body’s muscles. You can burn up to 600 calories while skating 10 miles per hour. According to the statistics released by the National Sporting Goods Association, inline skating topped the list of sports that witnessed the greatest growth between 1993 and 1998, in terms of participants. Roller skating is a fun and effective way of participating in fitness activities.

Roller skates have been involved in many sports:

Artistic roller skating: This sport includes several events and is generally performed on quad skates. Artistic roller skating comprise of activities such as figure, dance and freestyle.

• In figure skating, skaters form a series of circles or oval shapes to show accuracy, control and balance.
• In dance skating, the participants are judged on their choreography to music, accuracy of steps, skill and style. Skaters must pay attention to the rhythm and timing of the music to make certain moves.
• Freestyle skating is all about the combination of steps an individual inline skates
• l can perform on music, such as choreographed movements, jumps and spins.

Roller Hockey: Roller hockey can be played using quad skates or inline skates. It is a very fast game. To make the ball more visible, rinks are being built using blue or white pavements.

Inline skating: Inline skating is an aggressive sport, which is basically performed on the streets, parks and sidewalks. .

Roller Derby: Roller Derby is a fast growing sport that has been around for years. It is growing more and more into a high contact ladies’ sport that is very fast paced and very competitive.

Speed Skating: Many skaters enjoy the thrill of the sport of speed skating. You can speed skate on quad skates or inline skates. Many speed skate competitions are held indoors at a skating rink but a lot of races do take place outdoors on closed streets or tracks.

Skating is a fun activity that improves your overall health and does not adversely impact the joints and muscles, unlike running or jogging.

If you are looking for the best range of skates on the market, you need TheSkateAuthority.com. We provide our customers brand name skates anyod superior customer service at the most competitive prices. Our expert team of experienced professionals is here to understand your need and help you select the best available skate for the sport or activity of your choice.

By Orsondixon

The Best Tips for Ladies on Bowling

Any lady interested in the game of bowling? You are welcome here to learn more about the game. The participation of the ladies has taken the game to the family level. It was played by men before. And you have to know that there are some things different between the men's type and that of the women's. And there have been a lot of changes in the places where and how the game of bowling are played since the ladies have taken up the game.

Thanks to the ladies, bowling has become a family game. Years ago, it was a game strictly for men to enjoy, because bowling alleys were places in which women and girls could hardly afford to be seen. Poorly lighted and poorly ventilated, equipped with a goodly supply of cuspidors and shady characters, and located in dingy basements, the alleys were anything but inviting. The entrance of the first good-sized contingent of feminine bowlers into the game was the signal for a tremendous change. Owners and operators of bowling establishments realized that to attract this desirable element they would have to clean up and police their premises.

Out went the cuspidors and the seedy characters in came modernistic furnishings and illumination. Later came air conditioning. And now proprietors are vying with each other to outdo themselves in erecting splendid palaces for the sport. It was a wonderful thing for the women, too. Those who had been sitting at bridge tables day after day suddenly discovered that they could get a fine type of exercise which would allow them to keep their trim figures without effort. The thrill of real competition was furnished to many of them for the first time in their lives. Any fears that they might have had that the game was too strenuous were disproved by the performance of such mites as Allie Brandt, the 122-pound kegler with the 886 series rolled with a ball no faster than that rolled by a woman. Girls weighing just over 100 pounds began shooting 200 games.

Obviously, brute strength was not a necessity and, in fact, often proved to be a hindrance. The ladies are coming up fast in the bowling game now, and why shouldn't they? When you analyze it, the sport is a natural one for them, for it puts a premium on smoothness, gracefulness and rhythm, with which the average woman is born. We have already pointed out that mere brawn has no advantage in the game, for excessive speed and power are actually a detriment rather than a help. Getting started correctly is far more important to the ladies than to the men. Men, as a rule, have more powerful muscles which enable them to control the ball despite poor footwork and timing, something that the average woman beginner cannot do. If she should get started wrong, it is far more difficult for her to improve.

CHOOSING A BALL

To begin with, a woman should determine for herself the weight of the ball she can control one that she can handle without dropping, or getting excessively tired, especially in the final game of a series. True, many women can, and do, handle a limit-weight 16-pound ball with ease, but others, due to weaker wrists, or because of their size or the work they do, must choose one of lighter weight. After you have bowled for some time and have become familiar with the fundamentals of the game, you will find that you can handle a heavier ball, because a proper delivery makes the ball seem lighter. A heavier ball tends to increase your accuracy and improve your average, but that is true only when it is handled without effort. Bowling balls range in weight from 10 to 16 pounds. You might begin at any weight over 10, and work to perfect your timing and footwork, so that when your delivery is at the point where you feel it is "grooved" and the ball seems to be too light, you can graduate to a ball of more weight.

The questions of how many finger holes the ball should have are debatable where men are concerned but not with women. I would say that 99 per cent of the ladies would be better off using a three- fingered ball. Once in a great while we find a girl who can handle effectively the two-fingered type, but this is quite the exception. I advise the three-fingered variety. The reason for this is quite simple. When you use a three-fingered ball, you support a weight of 16 pounds or close to that with your two fingers and thumb. In using a two-fingered ball, you are forcing one finger to do the work of two in lifting. Men, possessed of stronger fingers and muscles, can do this fairly well, but for an overwhelming percentage of women bowlers, it is exceedingly inadvisable. The strain put upon them by the two-fingered grip is tremendous, especially after they have bowled several games.

As you may see that there are many changes in the ways the men and women play the game of bowling. From the weight of the ball to the numbers of finger holes etc. But it is for sure that the ladies cannot match the power and stamina of the men.
By Mitch

Strecthing Programs in Basketball

The body is flexible. It is supposed to be flexible. You have to be able to bend and reach something you dropped on the floor, or reach that book you need to read at the top shelf. But if your in sports like basketball, you need to be able to do more then stretch. Your muscles need to be loose and flexible all the time. If your muscles are tight, it will be a lot easier to strain and even rip them in an aggressive game of basketball. And we all know it takes a lot longer to heal a ripped or strained muscle than a break.

So, if you are playing or coaching basketball, or any sport for that matter, you need a stretching program.

What Is Stretching?

Stretching is simply the act of extending to full length the body and its muscles. This activity involves straightening or stretching the body structure or the limbs.

How Does One Do the Stretching?

Stretching is fairly easy. As mentioned in the introduction, it is involved in the normal activities. It can be done by any people, regardless of age.

However the extent of stretching and flexing differs. Like the muscles tighten as a person ages, when you are playing a sport like basketball the muscles shorten their span making them tight. The range of joint movements can be minimized when the elasticity in the muscles begins to run out. Bending or flexing becomes more limited. The muscles take longer to stretch out and soon you are on your way to sitting on the bench due to an injury for the game or even the season. This is why stretching regularly, as part of a routine is very important.

Simple stretches can be done everyday. It can be incorporated in the lifestyle and the daily activities. It does not require much of your time.

Stretching exercises can also be done while training. Actually, stretching is an essential part of any training or sport. It must be done first before anything else. Stretching the body and the limbs is a good preparation for a more rigorous activity.

Most athletes would do the sit and reach, wherein they position on the floor, extend their legs and reach the tip of their foot with the tip of their hand. Actually, most trainers actually require their athletes to really do the stretching before playing.

There is actually an ideal length of time in stretching. It is best to do it in 10 minutes. This will give the body enough opportunity to move and flex the muscles, thus preparing it for more complicated and strenuous movements.

Experts however would frown upon going way beyond 10 minutes. Stretching the exercise to 30 minutes or more will already wear out the body before you even get started playing. This would not be favorable if one is preparing for a game.

What Are the Benefits of Stretching?

1. Increase the Range of Movement
As one constantly does the stretching exercises, the length of the muscles and the tendons are also increased. This will help in increasing the range of your movement. Thus, the limbs and joints will be able to move, way before an injury can take place.

2. Increased Ability to Perform Skills
When you have a wide range of movement, the more you will be able to do more things. For example, you can jump high without feeling any pain when you land back on the floor. Plyometrics is based on this fact. Learning to stretch in this aspect early on will allow you to have a more active lifestyle longer.

3. Injury Prevention
You can prevent injury to joints, tendons and muscles with stretching. When the muscles and tendons are well-flexed, they are considered in good working order. This will help in a faster recovery and decreased soreness. The muscles of the body will be able to take more exhausting and rigorous movements with less probability of being injured.

4. Reduce Muscle Tension
If the muscles are given their regular exercises and stretching, it is less likely that they will contract. This will definitely relieve you of any muscle pain or problems.

5. Enhance Energy
Being able to move more will also give you more energy. Stretching will also help enhance your awareness, like knowing that you have a body that is capable of doing many things. As such, you are going to be more driven to move rather than sulk in the corner.

6. Reduces Cholesterol
Research also shows that doing prolonged stretching exercises, like yoga, will help reduce the cholesterol in the body. This of course must be done with a healthy diet at hand. This could prevent and even reverse the hardening of the arteries, allowing you to avoid coronary diseases.

If you incorporate stretching in your everyday practice before doing basketball, the benefits, as the commercial says, will be priceless. It does not require much. After all, your fitness is everything so do what it takes to keep the body healthy.

Guidance For Rock Climber

Rock climbing is a thrilling sport and one that is growing in popularity. Today, people of all ages are taking up this sport for fun, but physically, this sport is very demanding. The many aspects of rock climbing appeal to those pursuing this sport because it can be done indoors as well as outdoors.

Though this sport is safe, but every rock climber has a story to tell about a fall, particularly if he has been climbing outdoors. However, most rock climbing injuries occur to the hands, elbows, tendons and straining causes shoulders. Although these of injuries cannot be prevented, but with proper warm ups and stretch-outs, they can be reduced. You dont have to be a superman and you also dont have to be in great shape to start rock climbing and enjoy yourself, but it is always advisable to use the right rock climbing equipment for the journey ahead.

To get started in this sport, all you need is some equipment such as a harness, ropes, shoes and helmet. Other important equipment includes belays and carabineers. These are the devices that make the ropes easier to use in team climbing and also help to secure solo climbers. Most of the equipment can be rented. Rock-Climbing is a fun sport for kids as well as adults and a guided climb makes a great family outing.

The equipment includes:

Helmet: The most important equipment in rock climbing is the helmet. It protects your head from the debris that falls while you climb and also guards against bumps and bruises caused due to head bangs against the rock surfaces.

Rope: This is probably the most essential equipment. The usual length of the rope should be at least 50 to 60 meters, with a diameter of 10 to 11mm. Before using the rope, ensure that the rope can be stretched under tension, as this is essential in order to protect the climber in the event of a fall.

Shoes: Rock-climbers use special shoes that are strong and fit well.

Harness: A safety-climbing device, which is usually attached to a rope, is called as harness, to stop the climbers fall before he hits the ground. This rope passes through the webbing loops and these loops are the most important parts of the chain that protect the person from falling. The harness is wrapped around your thighs and waist to safeguard you from falling. Chalk powder is rubbed on your hands for a better grip. This chalk powder is stored in the chalk bag, which is hooked to the harness with hooks called as karabiners.

Before buying the safety equipment, you should have thorough information about the gear. There are several rocks climbing books and sites that provide excellent knowledge about all the rock climbing techniques and the equipments required for it. During shopping for rock climbing equipment, the best person to guide you would be a sales person or an experienced instructor. You can also purchase rock-climbing equipment from various online shops. Many people love rock climbing and this sport has transformed from complete obsession to a fun hobby.
By Kris