Anyone that is consistently physically active is all too aware of the aches and pains of physical activity. Staying active and keeping yourself in shape is undoubtedly one of the best things you can do for yourself in terms of health, but often it comes with a cost. Depending on your level of activity and the type of activity you engage in, there is a risk for both minor bumps and bruises along with serious injury.
If you’re an indoor or outdoor runner you may have pain in your knee or hip from the same movement over and over again. If you’re a weightlifter, you may tweak a muscle or a joint during a lift. There are also the more serious injuries such as herniated discs and torn ligaments that you may have to contend with. So the question becomes, how do you contend with the injuries?
When we’re talking sports related injuries first thing is to not ignore them. If you aren’t getting paid to play and you’re not a scholarship athlete, you still should never ignore an injury or pain. In order to help us manage our pain, there are a number of analgesic medications on the market. Medications like acetaminophen cover pain more than they help to address the issue. Ibuprofen helps reduce swelling but can have some negative side effects such as raising blood sugar levels and liver values over time.
So, what can you take that helps you stay in the game and deal with the issue with possibly fewer side effects? Many organizations are trying to determine if pure CBD is an alternative. The science community is researching it but we still don't have any definitive answers. There’s so much buzz behind it that the professional Mixed Martial Arts fighting association, the UFC, has made it legal for its fighters to use it and is putting money into researching the effects of CBD.
And when it comes to sports, arguably none are as brutal as the UFC. One only needs to type “UFC” into YouTube to see some of the brutality involved. According to Dr. Beau Hightower, director of sports medicine for the Jackson-Winkeljohn MMA team, UFC fights are like. 'being in several car wrecks. When fighters get up the next day, they often-times can’t walk for a few steps, and then they’re hobbling around.'
People across the globe are desperately seeking an alternative to addictive painkillers with strong side effects. There is no evidence that CBD is that alternative. Research on pure CBD oils and edibles is still ongoing. In the meantime, it looks like some organizations are ready to jump in head first.
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