Wrestlers are known for their well-developed arms and shoulders, but the sport also places intense demands on an athlete's core muscles. Although wrestlers condition their abdominals and lower back, abdominal strain is not an unusual injury on the mat. How you deal with abdominal strain will have a lot to do with how quickly you return to 100 percent effectiveness.
Abdominal Strain
MayoClinic.com defines a strain as as stretching or tearing in your muscles and tendons. This usually happens when a muscle is pulled beyond its usual range of motion, or pushed to lift weights beyond its maximum capacity. Since both range and capacity increase as a muscle warms up, strains often happen during the first parts of wrestling competition or practice.
Causes
In wrestling, abdominal strains usually come from partner work; wrestlers simply do too many situps and other core exercises for anything less strenuous to cause a problem. In wrestling competition and practice, though, an athlete picks up and moves an opponent his size or larger -- usually while that opponent is actively resisting. Add to this the odd angles and twists a wrestler's torso often goes through, and it's not surprising that wrestlers occasionally strain their abdomens. What's surprising is that it doesn't happen more often.
Treatment
MayoClinic.com recommends rest, ice and compression for strains. Inflammation -- blood rushing to an injured area, causing swelling -- can make a strain worse and slow healing. Ice helps reduce that swelling, as will an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen. A compression bandage or a compression shirt over your abdomen can support the injured muscle and help it rest to heal.
Warning Signs
Pain in your abdomen can just be a simple muscle strain, but can also mean a damaged organ or even a low broken rib. If the pain in your abdomen is sharp and stabbing, or so severe that it interferes with your ability to move, you should check in with a doctor. It may turn out to just be a strain, but it's best to err on the side of caution when it comes to abdominal pain.
References
- MayoClinic.com; Sprains and Strains; October 2009
- "The Sports Injuries Handbook"; Christer Rolf, M.D., Ph.D; 2011
