While it is not pleasant to think about, split toe nails are more common than you may think, especially amongst athletes whose feet take a beating. Whether it is from overuse, like a marathoner, or from being stepped on hard, like a football player, soccer player, or basketball player, a toe nail splitting can be an extremely painful injury that has a serious effect on an athlete’s ability to perform. When your toes are hyper sensitive it can affect your ability to push off or to have an explosive burst, whether for jumping or for speed.

Shin splints are a painful overuse injury that are common to runners, or other athletes who may be doing a lot of running as part of a conditioning program for another sport. Sharp pain on the outside edge of the shin is the most common symptom.

A pulled muscle or strain is an overstretched or torn muscle that can mostly be self treated by following four steps known as RICE therapy

One of the most difficult things for athletes to do, especially in extreme weather conditions, is to control their core body temperature. On a hot day the body generates heat during exercise at faster rate than the atmosphere will allow it to dissipate. In extreme circumstances, even the atmosphere can make the body temperature rise, let alone allow it to dissipate heat itself.

Occasionally an athlete will put undue stress on tendons and joints during a training program and when this happens, there is the risk that the individual may develop a case of tendonitis. Tendonitis occurs when a tendon rubs repeatedly over a joint, causing friction. The friction in turn causes soreness and inflammation. This can be a painful condition, which causes stiffness and can limit mobility.

A bloody nose can be caused from something as simple as the air being too dry, to some other underlying symptom that is far more serious. In sports, the cause of a nosebleed is usually pretty clear

A sprained ankle typically occurs when the ankle joint is rolled in one direction or the other and the ligaments and tendons, which give it support and hold it upright, are stretched too far. The result is a painful injury that can lead to swelling and immobility.

We have all seen athletes in the Olympics or major marathons stumbling stiffly across the finish line, bent over and grimacing from the pain of muscle cramps. The problem is not a serious injury or fatigue, but rather that their bodies have run out of the fuel they need to keep going.