Safety

Concussions

common ways of getting concussions are any head to head hits or any hits that involve a hard blow to the skull. Every year nearly 135,000 children ranging from age 5 to 18 are treated for concussions and other head injures from sports or other recreational activities. [1] Many concussions come from sports such as wrestling, football, boxing and any other sport that risks getting hit in the head.Wearing head gear can help prevent concussions. Also wearing a frontal paid that protects the forehead and top of the head is very effective in protecting the head from a hit that may cause a concussion. Wearing a mouth piece can help prevent concussions as well.[2]

Cauliflower ear

Cauliflower ear is a blood clot that forms under the skin in the ear causing there to be a large bump in the ear the bump tends to be extremely hard. To develop cauliflower ear one must be hit in the ear many times or hit hard for it to form into a blood clot.[3] When having Cauliflower ear it is important to get the ear drained of liquid that has built up. otherwise the ear will require surgery to return to normal shape and size.The best way to prevent cauliflower is to wear headgear. This will protect your ears from taking hard hits.[2]

ligament injuries

Knee ligament injuries are a common injury in wrestling. One being an injury to the Medial Collateral Ligament which is also know as the MCL and is located on the inside. Another common injury to the knee is on the outside Lateral Collateral Ligament which is known as the LCL. Leg or knee injuries are commonly caused by over twisting the leg outward from the middle of the body.[2]

disease

Taking showers regularly, wearing clean clothes for practice, mopping the mats with an antiseptic solution will also prevent spread and growth of diseases[2]

impetigo

Impetigo is a highly contagious skin infection. They appear as red or yellowish bumps and sores that are clustered together they may increase in size. The sores can burst which then crust over with a yellowish or brownish scab.[4] This infection can be spread by coming into contact with a person who has the infection. Another way to contract impetigo is by touching or using equipment or from the mats that are infected by the bacteria. If impetigo is left untreated other infections could occur which can cause serious health issues. The bumps cause no pain although, they may be itchy. Once the blisters pop they crust over with a yellow brownish scab but, they can still be red and itchy.[5] Mayo clinic states that "Classic signs and symptoms of impetigo involve red sores that quickly rupture, ooze for a few days and then form a yellowish-brown crust. The sores usually occur around the nose and mouth but can be spread to other areas of the body by fingers, clothing and towels".[4]

  • Certain sports. Participating in sports like wrestling and football where skin to skin contact is always happening you may increase your risk of developing a skin infection.[4] Impetigo comes from a bacteria known as staphylococcus aureus.[6]

MRSA

MRSA is a infection that has a resistance to certain antibiotics this is why MRSA is so dangerous and hard to treat. MRSA stands for Methicillin- resistant Staphylococcus, which is a form of a staph infection.[7] Any athlete who develops a skin infection should be checked by doctor immediately. Also, one should resist from trying to give themselves self care. When getting MRSA treated for they tend to make an incision and drain the infected area.[8] MRSA can become life threatening if it reaches the blood stream it also can cause infections on surgical sites that can cause major implications, and can even cause an pneumonia.[9]

Ringworm

Is a fungal or yeast infection on the skin in the shape of a circle. It appears to be red and the outer ring may be slightly raised. The infection grows while in warm moist places and tends to be itchy. One can contract the infection by touching the area that is infected or items that are contaminated.[10]

Herpetic Lesions

These lesions are all Type one infections also known specifically as Herpes Simplex, Herpes Zoster , and Herpes Gladiatorial are all types of herpes that are common in skin to skin contact sports. Type two herpes is known as herpes on the genitals which is spread through sexual contact.[11] These lesions come from skin to skin contact or body secretions. The skin starts to develop blisters which can happen anywhere on the body. To return to any activity one must be cleared by a doctor.[12] Herpes Simplex is the virus that causes cold sores this virus can be spread by oral seceretions and can also cause Herpes Gladiatorial. Once a person becomes infected the virus stays in the body forever and can reactivate itself anytime causing cold sores.[13] Herpes Gladiatorial is a skin infection. it comes from the Herpes Simplex virus which is causes the same lesion one has when they have a cold sore. This form of herpes is on the skin and can be spread through contact with others or sharing beverages with someone who is infected or using anything that they may have contaminated. This virus remains in your system and can reactivate itself at anytime causing lesions to appear.[14] Herpes Zoster is the virus which causes shingles and chicken pox. Once one has had the chicken pox they carry the virus forever. Once one has chicken pox the virus is inactive but, if it becomes active again they get the shingles.[15]

  1. ^ "Archived Feature: Heads Up Best Practices for Dealing with Concussions". Team USA. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  2. ^ a b c d "Wrestling Injury Prevention". www.stopsportsinjuries.org. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  3. ^ "What's Cauliflower Ear?". kidshealth.org. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  4. ^ a b c "Impetigo - Mayo Clinic". www.mayoclinic.org. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  5. ^ "Common Wrestling Skin Diseases | iSport.com". wrestling.isport.com. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  6. ^ "Impetigo (school sores, skin infection). DermNet NZ". www.dermnetnz.org. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  7. ^ "MRSA infection - Mayo Clinic". www.mayoclinic.org. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  8. ^ nslabaugh. "Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) and Athletics". NCAA.org - The Official Site of the NCAA. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  9. ^ "Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) Infections | CDC". www.cdc.gov. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  10. ^ "Ringworm: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia". www.nlm.nih.gov. Retrieved 2016-04-06.
  11. ^ "Get the facts about herpes and Genital Herpes". www.herpes.org.nz. Retrieved 2016-04-11.
  12. ^ "Wrestling and Skin Conditions - What Is THAT? :: Nationwide Children's Hospital". www.nationwidechildrens.org. Retrieved 2016-04-11.
  13. ^ "Herpes Simplex: MedlinePlus". www.nlm.nih.gov. Retrieved 2016-04-11.
  14. ^ "Viral Skin Infection: Herpes gladiatorum ("Mat Herpes")". www.health.ny.gov. Retrieved 2016-04-11.
  15. ^ "Shingles | Transmission - How Spreads | Herpes Zoster | CDC". www.cdc.gov. Retrieved 2016-04-11.