Common Badminton Injuries and How to Prevent Them

Despite a belief that it’s a pretty relaxed sport, professional badminton is really intense. Players must be able to move in all directions and change course in a fast and fluid manner. Since it takes a lot of strength and motor abilities to change tempo all the time, the body becomes tired from these abrupt starts and pauses. Badminton athletes must simultaneously control their knees, ankles, hips, shoulders, and back, which may lead to muscular fatigue. On top of that, knee and foot pain are common symptoms badminton players suffer from.

Most Common Badminton Injuries

The intense rhythm of professional badminton can lead to numerous injuries that need to be handled by a doctor or a physiotherapist. Let’s dig deeper and see what the most common badminton injuries are. If you are a badminton fan, you can always visit this page and dive into the world of your favorite sport.

Dental Injuries

In badminton, dental injuries can occur when a player accidentally gets hit in the face by a racket or shuttlecock, or even during an unexpected collision with another player. These injuries can lead to chipped, broken, or even knocked-out teeth. Dental injuries may cause sharp pain, bleeding, and swelling in the mouth area, making it difficult to continue playing. While some dental injuries may seem minor, they require prompt attention. Visiting a dentist as soon as possible is crucial to assess the damage and prevent further complications. Wearing a mouthguard can help reduce the risk of such injuries during play.

Sprained Ankles

Most often, ankle injuries happen when you stop, turn, jump, or land. Examples include stumbling on the ground or another player’s foot. One or more of the ankle’s ligaments may then rupture partially or completely as a result of the foot being twisted inwards or outwards. 

Sprains usually cause swelling and acute or medium pain, which can be located on the inside or outside of the ankle. Though sprains can seem minor injuries, they are harsh to handle. It’s best to see a physiotherapist ASAP. 

Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis)

Badminton involves lots of wrist motions. Since you always have to use your wrist to generate the force during hits, your forearm muscles perform a lot of work. Plus, the grip adds to the pressure. As a result, the outside of the elbow can get painful and irritated. 

To avoid such injuries, it’s crucial to know your racket weight and grip size. Also, you can look for exercises that make your forearms and wrists stronger. This will reduce the likelihood of developing tennis elbow or help relieve its symptoms.

Shoulder Injuries (Rotator Cuff Strain)

Since badminton players perform a lot of quick and repetitive overhead shoulder movements, rotator cuff problems are pretty common. FYI, the rotator cuff is the combination of muscles and tendons that encircle the shoulder joint and help it move. The reasons behind this injury include improper movement technique and too many overhead shots.

Rotator cuff strains cause pain and uneasiness. To avoid them, you need to do shoulder resistance exercises that strengthen shoulder joints. Plus, proper warm-up is essential.

Knee Injuries (Patellar Tendonitis)

Patellar tendonitis is quite a common knee condition among badminton players. The patellar tendon, which connects a tibia and a kneecap, can suffer micro tears from peak loads during workouts. As a result, you can feel abrupt pain, discoloration around the knees, and stiffness.

It’s best to start by applying ice on the knee and having rest from working out. In more complicated cases, anti-inflammatory treatment and rehabilitation exercises can be a better solution.

Achilles Tendon Injuries

Abrupt badminton tempo can also lead to the Achilles tendon injuries, namely Achilles tendinitis. The Achilles tendon runs from the heel bone to the calf muscle. People who have this tendon injury may experience persistent, annoying pain at the back of their ankle that gets worse with movement and is sensitive to touch.

Achilles tendinitis can be treated with rest, ice, and short-term lifestyle or activity adjustments to allow the tendon to heal. After the discomfort goes away, a foot and ankle specialist can talk about further care and rehabilitation to avoid more injuries, such as particular ankle stretches and exercises to increase ankle mobility.

Wrist Strain

Another typical badminton injury is a sprained wrist. A wrist sprain is typically brought on by an abrupt impact or an unforeseen move in wrist mobility. It happens when the wrist’s muscles, tendons, and ligaments are pushed too hard. While playing badminton, a wrist injury can result from something as basic as holding the racket incorrectly or employing an unusual grip. 

You will experience pain and swelling that will lead to limited wrist movement. The best remedy is rest and several physiotherapy sessions.

Prevention Tips

A slip or fall is an example of an injury that can hardly be prevented. As with fractures or sprains, these injuries typically cause an acute situation where we experience pain and swelling right away. What if the injury is less noticeable, though? You might have an overuse injury, for example. Without adequate rest, repetitive movements can cause strain injuries. Since badminton is a noncontact sport, they are frequently the most common injuries among players. They can be caused by abuse, overuse, or lack of proper treatment. It’s crucial to be alert and do your best to prevent such injuries, rather than treat them. So here goes… A couple of prevention tips coming right up!

Proper Warm-Up and Stretching

Warming up your muscles is essential for any type of activity, let alone professional sport. Do a short warm-up and a bit of stretching before a badminton workout session. You will reduce the risk of injuries if your muscles are ready to rumble by the beginning of the game.

Strengthening Exercises

Strengthening exercises will increase flexibility and strength in the muscles you are using to play badminton (basically, the whole body). Focus on working out muscles around your joints — knees, ankles, and shoulders. We recommend starting with bodyweight exercises, such as squats, push-ups, planks, and lunges. Resistance bands also offer mild but intense pressure and seldom cause injuries.

Good Technique and Coaching

Wrong technique in badminton is extremely hazardous. Before enrolling in intense badminton sessions, try working out with a coach who will teach you how to move and shoot properly. Once your posture and movements are properly set up, you will experience a much lower risk of body injuries.

Wearing the Right Gear

Our feet suffer a lot during badminton sessions; therefore, you need proper shoes with a non-slip sole and ankle support. The racket is just as important. Try a lighter racket if you are a beginner, and measure your grip size before choosing one. A wrong grip will add additional strain on your wrist muscles. String tension also affects control, power, and the risk of wrist and arm injuries, so seek professional advice to find the right tension for your style.

Rest and Recovery

A lot of badminton players skip this crucial step and go straight to their favorite part of the plan, the power meal. Well, the power nap is just as important. It is also crucial to cool down after the game to return your body temperature back to normal and remove lactic acid from your body. To recover right after the game, try going on a short stroll, stretching, and doing some low-intensity exercises. To prevent swelling after abrupt moves and possible injuries, apply a bag of ice to the possibly injured area and use compression bandages.

When to Seek Medical Help

A little chat with a therapist never killed nobody. There is one general rule: you should never play through pain, regardless of the extent of your injury or how bad you believe it to be. Rather, get medical help as soon as you can. Undiagnosed symptoms can quickly worsen and increase your risk of getting hurt again, which can have a serious negative effect on your health. It’s best to get a consultation from a medical professional and work out a treatment and rehabilitation schedule if needed.

Conclusion

Badminton is an intense sport even for amateurs, let alone professional players. Intensity is hazardous. To enjoy your badminton experience to the max, listen to your body to avoid injuries. Players who take care of their health and use prevention techniques prolong their careers and do not normally experience any bad injuries. We shared a whole list of precautions you can take to enjoy the game. Regardless of your level of experience, this article gives you the nuts and bolts you need to play badminton safely and without being injured.