Sports and other athletic activities are a necessary part of staying healthy, but the risk of harmful effects on your joints exists. Most people who monitor their wellness with diet and exercise don't need to worry about degenerative issues due solely to sports, but factors can exacerbate the risk. Age, fitness and preexisting health conditions can effect how your joints respond to sports.
Inflammation
The main risk of harm to the joints from sports is inflammation. Cartilage and surrounding tissue increase in size because of irritation. Your joints become irritated from a variety of stresses, including lack of recovery time between training sessions, repetitive joint movement during training or improper form that creates friction between cartilage and bones or tendons and ligaments. Stretching, massages and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications can help. If inflammation persists, talk to your doctor about prescriptions or a trainer about form.
Dislocation
Joint dislocation has an acute onset. If you dislocate a joint, you feel it immediately. This is usually a result of a sports accident. Either you slam into someone or hit the ground improperly or take a heavy impact from a ball or other equipment. Your joints provide a connective base for range of motion between two body parts. Dislocation is when the two parts no longer are connected properly. Common sports dislocations occur at the shoulder and clavicle. If this happens, seek medical attention. Attempting to fix or pop your joints back into place can create serious complications.
Nerves
People who perform high-intensity sports or train for long periods may subject themselves to nerve impingement. The joints misalign from persistent or acute misuse, and, as they attempt to re-align or shift around inside the surrounding tissue, a nerve gets stuck within the joint. This is most likely to occur in the lower back and can be intensely painful to endure and fix. A chiropractor may be able to perform an adjustment to relieve the nerve, or you may need to see a doctor.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a form of arthritis that happens from wear and tear on the joints. Some people have a hereditary predisposition to it, but almost all men and women over 70 and many over 55 shows signs of this condition. Sports can exacerbate the damage to the joints that causes osteoarthritis, because the joints and bones grind away the cartilage. Talk to a nutritionist or doctor about ways to preserve your joint health to stave off osteoarthritis.
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