No Pain, No Gain? How Pain Management Can Help Your MMA Game
It’s believed that a quarter of Americans follow mixed martial arts (MMA) and consider themselves to be a fan of the game. And while – as the Washington Post reports – this is lower than the equivalent figure for professional boxing, it’s clear that there is still a huge demand for the game. Many people also like to play MMA themselves, too, either as an amateur in their local town or as a semi-professional or even professional player on a higher level. One of the main barriers, though, is getting hurt while playing, and often MMA players can find themselves experiencing issues like pain or injury. Here are some top tips on managing the pain if you play this ancient game.
Employ a good physician
When it comes to sport, there are often certain medical needs which you need to have met if you’re going to manage your injuries quickly and effectively. That means considering going to a physician who has specialist experience in sports. What’s more, they will be able to refer you to other professionals who are able to provide you with targeted extra care, such as sports physiotherapists.
Get back to nature
Managing pain as an MMA fighter can be done in many different ways, and you don’t have to rely on the traditional world of pharmaceutical medicines to get this done. As CNN reports, eight top research universities including Harvard and Stanford have banded together to research the benefits of alternative medicine, and as a result of this increased level of understanding, you can also employ some more natural remedies if you’re going through injury problems. If you’re looking for how to manage arthritis pain, your ideal first step may be to apply some hot or cold patches to the affected area to see if that reduces your symptoms.
Think carefully about side effects
In the event that you do choose to use some pharmaceutical medicines on the advice of a physician to deal with your MMA-related injuries, it’s wise to talk through the possible side effects of any medications you’re going to use before you start taking them. One potential side effect of ibuprofen, for example, is that you may develop kidney problems, and, this in, turn could affect your game in the long term. Of course, you should always do what’s best for your medical needs – but it’s important to get the full picture and know the full risks before you make a move.
It’s undeniable that pain is common in this game. That said, fighting on the mixed martial arts scene doesn’t have to be one long injury fest. By following these top tips on how to manage any pain you do experience, you can get through your games and fight to the best of your ability.
