Playing it safe on

Playing it safe on the basketball court Whether playing as an amateur or professional, basketball players can make the most of their ability and stay healthier by learning how to avoid injury. The hard playing surface and the frequent starting and stopping motion inherent in the sport causes stress to the lower extrem-ities. This may lead to injuries such as ligament sprains, muscle strain and damage to the cartilage of the knee.		Back pain: a major cause of lost work days Back pain is one of the leading causes of on the job injuries (workers compensation claims) in the United States. In 1983 more than 25% of all workers compensation claims were due to back pain. Each year this percentage becomes higher and higher. According to a 1984 study which appeared in the Journal of Occupational Medicine, an individual suffering from work related
To keep injuries to a minimum, Dr. Joseph Esposito, a chiroprac-tor and former basketball coach from Virginia, recommends 15 to 20 minutes of stretching before the game. "Players need warm muscles for the game. Also, play-ers on the bench need to continue this stretching to remain ready for action." Dr. Esposito recommends the frequent use of ice during the game. "Ice should be used after any injury to reduce swelling and scar tissue formation," he explains.	"Heat builds up in the joints from extensive use during the game. Therefore, ice should be used to cool them afterwards." In addition to using ice after the game, he recommends more stretching as a cool down for muscles and a good night's rest to built up the energy supply burned off while playing. Taking the time to learn and apply the ways to prevent injuries can help to make basketball, at any level, a safer sport.	back pain generated about $470 in medical treatments and $3,063 in indemnity compensation. A 1976 National Safety Council study stated that almost $2 billion was spent for medical expenses and lost-time pay because of low-back pain. The work days lost because of back pain is as staggering as the medical bills and indemnity claims. It has been estimated that each year 1,400 workdays are los, due to back pain per 1,000 employees. Other studies state that approximately 93 million workdays are lost annually by back
If you are pregnant cut back on caffeine		pain sufferers. This also is increasing rapidly.
Women are advised to avoid caf-feine during pregnancy because of possible negative effects, accord-ing to recent research. Past studies have linked caf-feine with insomnia, headaches, high blood pressure and ulcers. Research shows a possible link between caffeine and birth defects. An article in the Journal of the American Dietitic Association cited studies that showed caffeine from the mother enters the fetus through the placenta, Because the chemicals needed to break down the toxic effects of caffeine are not yet present in the fetus it could lead to birth defects.	"The Food and Drug Adminis-tration and the Nutrition Board of the National Academy of Sciences both recommend reducing or elim-inating caffeine intake during preg-nancy," said Dr. Charles Sawyer, an instructor at Northwestern Chiropractic College. "There is much conflicting information but I recommend eliminating caffeine altogether during pregnancy just to be sure." Dr. Sawyer suggests during pregnancy women should drink decaffeinated soft drinks and coffee so that they can still enjoy the flavor of cola and coffee with-out any potential negative effects.	Choosing proper treatment can substantially decrease the costs back pain generates. Chiropractic care is an effective form of treatment because it specializes in back and musculoskeletal system ailments. It has been documented by independent industrial back studies in Florida, California, and Oregon that the average cost and number of visits to a chiropractor is usually less than other forms of treatment. Ask your chiropractor for more information on back pair and treatment.