Among the most common pinched nerve causes are sports that put a large amount of stress on the spine, particularly those that involve twisting, bending, and axial weight loading. (Axial loading is force applied along an axis; for example, force applied to the spine that starts at a person’s head and is transferred along the length of the spine, as may happen with divers when their heads hit the water or football players during a head-on tackle.)

Many athletes refer to a pinched nerve as a “stinger” or a “burner,” which describes the traveling, radiculopathic symptoms of a pinched spinal nerve that can often include a hot or electric feeling of pain shooting through the extremities. Other symptoms can include muscle weakness, numbness, or a tingling sensation that affects the arms, legs, hands, or feet, depending on the location of the nerve being compressed.

Do Certain Sports Make Me More Susceptible to a Pinched Nerve?

A pinched nerve can occur suddenly if someone sustains an injury that affects the anatomical components of the spine, such as a herniated disc or a vertebral fracture that leads to vertebral slippage. However, it’s more likely that spinal nerve compression will develop over time due to participation in sports that require repetitive motions from the neck or back. Sports that may put you at risk for a pinched nerve in the lumbar (lower) spine include:

– Weight lifting – the neck and back are forced to support extremely large amounts of weight

– Running – the impact of the feet hitting the ground puts stress on the vertebral joints

– Cycling – a constant forward posture exerts pressure on the lower back

– Golf – the repetitive twisting movement when swinging the club can strain the lumbar spine

Sports that may put you at risk for a pinched nerve in the cervical (upper) spine include:

– Football – repeated blows to the neck and back can damage discs, vertebrae, and facet joints

– Swimming – repetitive side-to-side twisting of the head and neck can cause strain on the neck and upper back

– Diving – the axial pressure of the head hitting the surface of the water can strain the cervical spine

The Dangers of Becoming Inactive

Contrary to popular belief, in most cases, a pinched nerve root in the neck or back should not be treated with immobilization. While high-impact sports and exercises probably should be ceased, a doctor may tell an athlete with a pinched nerve that stopping activity altogether can actually cause more harm than good. Muscles can weaken during periods of inactivity, which causes more strain to be put on the vertebral facet joints, vertebrae, and intervertebral discs. Weight gain and reduced circulation are also problems that could arise if an athlete becomes inactive while treating a pinched nerve, either of which could slow the recovery process. All this being said, it’s most important for pinched nerve patients to consult with their doctors before trying any type of exercise, stretching, or other physical activity.

Treating a Pinched Nerve While Staying Active

If you are an active individual or an athlete who has a pinched nerve, talk to your doctor about low-impact exercises and stretches that can help you retain flexibility and mobility. Walking, hiking, strength training with resistance bands, elliptical training, and recumbent stationary cycling all may be viable alternatives to some of the high-impact sports listed above.

It will also be important to relieve the pain of pinched nerve symptoms as you stay active. Your physician or physical therapist will likely recommend a series of conservative treatments like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), cryotherapy, thermotherapy, TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation), or cortisone injections.

Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective outpatient procedures for the treatment of pinched nerves and several other spinal conditions.

Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective outpatient procedures for pinched nerves and other spinal conditions. http://www.laserspineinstitute.com/back_problems/pinched_nerve/

Author Bio: Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective outpatient procedures for the treatment of pinched nerves and several other spinal conditions.

Category: Wellness, Fitness and Diet
Keywords: Pinched nerve