“My first injury ever was a
broken toe, and my mother made me run laps around the mat for the rest of the
night. She said she wanted me to know that even if I was hurt, I was still
fine.” - Ronda
Rousey
My good
friend and team captain of Prime, Mike McGowan, started an incredibly
informative page on Facebook wherein he addresses common (and not so common)
paintball injuries. He details how to
avoid, heal and recover from most injuries sustained playing our sport. Check it out at: https://www.facebook.com/PaintballInjuryPrevention
Injuries
are something I know a thing or two about...
2011
-The author being carried by Primemate Evan Manners and Matt Sossoman of
Vicious
We have
all played injured. As we head into the
maiden NXL event this week, I am nursing a broken toe on my right foot, inflamed
tendon on my left and a damaged hip flexor.
When speaking to one of our up and coming players this weekend during
practice, he said, “Pain is simply weakness leaving the body, right?” I corrected him and told him that my family
had adapted that phrase and put our unique spin on it. “No sir, pain is weakness entering the mind.”
I regret
telling him that. He has a tremendous
work ethic and I know that if he is hurt, he will now continue to push himself
even if he is injured, possibly injuring himself more. I am a perfect example of what NOT to do when
you are injured. I am doing okay for a
player in his 40’s but I could be much better if I had taken better care of
myself when competing over the years. That
is, if I had let myself heal and heal properly.
Most people will tell you I am practically glued together. Granted, it is glue from the corpses of my
fallen foes… but glue none the less.
In any sport,
there is potential for injury (accept perhaps Chess… is that a sport? And if you were injured playing it, I think
you are playing it wrong). Every athlete knows the risks when they compete. The extent of the injury and the potential
for further damage must be weighed.
Why do
we do it? We all have different reasons. Professionals do it because they want to get
paid. College athletes may do it because
they want to keep a scholarship or be seen by a scout. But paintball players? We are a breed that for simple lack of a
better term… are just too crazy. Like
most competitors, I think your average to above average tournament paintball
player feels the need to compete when injured for no other reason than simply
to show his boys he has a drive. Very
brave. Stupid… but brave. We are dedicated to the sport and when you
love something, there aren’t many things that will stop you from doing it.. That is what drives us.
2012
- Mike McGowan dislocates his shoulder in Phoenix during a snake dive
The National
Athletic Trainers’ Association says that athletes who play injured cannot only
re-injure or attain new injuries but also experience psychological issues such
as fear and anxiety, too.
The key to all of this and the questions that
one must ask themselves: “Is it worth it?” and “Do I know my limits?” You have to recognize when to push forward
and when to rest and heal. I think all
of us recognize a particular level of injury that is our limit. Me?
Bleeding out of a majority of orifices would do it. Notice how it has to be a Majority….
See? Stupid.
Know your limits people. Take
precautions and keep yourself from getting hurt. You can start by going to my boys page and
reading up on how to stretch and avoid common injuries.
The
maiden event of the NXL is just a couple of days away and for all intents and
purposes, it promises to be quite the shindig.
I will be sure to post about it.
Until then...be water my friends...
Mike Bianca
Team Prime
