Remedies of common injuries for badminton players

Lower Back Pain
Knee Pain (Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome)
Ankle Sprains

Badminton

Common Injuries for Badminton Players

Badminton is one of the most popular recreational sports played in Singapore by people of all ages. Common injuries for badminton includes shoulder impingement, rotator cuff strains/tears, lower back pain, Knee ligament strains, ankle sprains, knee meniscus strains, elbow pain and wrist pain.

Lower Back Pain

An inefficient set up position to smash caused by poor footwork will increase the risk of lower back pain. Good ankle and hip stability will greatly decrease the occurrence of pain in the lower back when doing repetitive explosive lunging and jumping movements. What can you do? Stretch or use a massage ball/foam roller on the hips, lower back and hamstrings where possible. Reduce training drills during practice. X rays may be needed if muscle spasms become more frequent especially in adolescent teens. What can Myphysio do? Do graduated myofascial releases to reduce discomfort instead of aggressive massage which may aggravate pain in the lower back and legs. Check the spine for possible scoliosis or muscle imbalances. Check for motion deficits that may add to the compensations in the lower back Sports Enhancement Understanding basic core stability principals (see Core Alpha: Spine) with greater use of the trunk, core, legs produce a consistent, smooth and powerful smash. Improve spinal mobility/strength to improve rotating when jumping.

Knee Pain (Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome)

Badminton requires a myriad of movement patterns including pivot and turn, lunges, jumps, back peddling etc. Most knee problems occur with fatigue, which leads to poor footwork and more use of the knee joint vs the muscles. The increase torque on the knee along with decreasing knee stability will increase the loading stress over the knee joint. What can you do? Consider wearing a sleeve brace to support fatigue muscles when playing long matches, Stay light on the toes and try to minimize overreaching or over lunging for shuttles. What can MyPhysio do? We will usually start with some knee testing to see what structures are involved if there is no prior MRIs taken. Next we check for any muscle imbalances in both legs. Provide good advice on proper activity and movement modifications to prevent continuous irritation on the knee. Sports Enhancement Our first goal is to get you pain free while concurrently improving on your knee mechanics to maximize usage of your knee musculature rather than excessively using your knee joints or ligaments. We go through footwork drills for all strokes and direction to improve movement patterns and speed.

Ankle Sprains

Chronic ankle instability? Rolling over the ankle while changing directions? Ankle sprains are common problems we see at the clinic for badminton injuries. What can you do? Do not untie your shoelaces until you get a chance to ice the foot, otherwise the swelling in the foot will be accelerated and cause more pain. Ice it on and off for 10 min cycles, 2 to 3 times right after the sprain happens or when you get home. What can MyPhysio do? There are a few things we will check to assess the situation. Check the severity of the sprain and which ligament are affected, and if it requires recommend an X-ray or MRI. Check for stability of the ankle, provide recommendations for stability braces if needed Correct any biomechanical compensations that may cause future problems, manage the pain, and provide exercises to prevent further injury. Recommendation to see a orthopedic foot specialist. Sports Enhancement

Check stability with cuts, lunges, jump and landing positions. Check running mechanics and foot work on the court.