Overview

A vitamin is an organic compound required as a nutrient in tiny amounts by an organism. A compound is called a vitamin when it cannot be synthesized in sufficient quantities by an organism, and must be obtained from the diet. Thus, the term is conditional both on the circumstances and the particular organism. For example, ascorbic acid functions as vitamin C for some animals but not others, and vitamins D and K are required in the human diet only in certain circumstances.

Vitamins are classified by their biological and chemical activity, not their structure. Thus, each "vitamin" actually refers to a number of vitamer compounds, which form a set of distinct chemical compounds that show the biological activity of a particular vitamin. Such a set of chemicals are grouped under an alphabetized vitamin "generic descriptor" title, such as "vitamin A," which (for example) includes retinal, retinol, and many carotenoids. Vitamers are often inter-convertible in the body. The term vitamin does not include other essential nutrients such as dietary minerals, essential fatty acids, or essential amino acids, nor does it encompass the large number of other nutrients that promote health but are otherwise required less often.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Knee Injuries - How to Avoid This Common Sports Injury

knee injuries are the most common sports injuries seen in Britain today.

In Running alone, 60% of all runners are injured in an average year and about one third of these sports injuries to the knee.

knee injuries are the most common sports injuries sustained by school children, because they often occur during the soccer, hockey and rugby.

But far too little is known by the general public about the benefits of knee-support or other simple steps that can be taken to help prevent knee injuries.

The knee is the largest joint in the body, made up of bones, cartilage, muscles, tendons and ligaments. A knee injury sports can be one of these.

It may be difficult to understand, knee injuries and some of the complicated terms that do not make it any easier for the Laity.

You may have heard the knee "overuse" for example. Well, although it is sometimes an "excessive" injury, the real name of the condition is iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS). This is one of the most common knee injuries. It is actually caused by a lack of strength and flexibility more than anything else than can accurately be described as over-exploitation. In fact, it may be, has runners even though they are only approximately 5 miles, which can hardly be seen as over-exploitation.

There are a number of other common knee injuries. Firstly, there is a knee sprain means you have a stretched or torn ligament. Then there are strains, which means you have torn a muscle or tendon.

tendonitis happens when a tendon is inflamed. Damage to the menisci is a really common sports injury, especially in activities in which one side to side movement or a sudden change in speed can cause them to tear.

And, of course, sometimes there can be cartilage injury in which a small piece of bone or cartilage breaks off, what long-term knee pain.

Osgood-Schlatter disease is especially common among young people aged 10-15, especially when linked to a growth spurt. A typical symptom is pain just below the front of the patella on the shin, which is even worse with activity. It is sometimes a bump under the knee that is painful to touch. Osgood-Schlatter disease is especially common in boys, the sport, the running, Join, or jump, all of a burden on the quadriceps muscles.

The arterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is the most common knee ligament to be damaged in a sports injury, usually by a sudden turn or landing badly after a jump.

It is interesting that women athletes are eight times more likely to suffer damage to the cruciate ligament arterior than men.

Nobody is immune to knee injuries, with many professional footballers such as Ruud van Nistelrooy and Paul Gascoigne is known for her knee injury.

For many knee injuries, it is advised to rest the knee compression and apply. In these cases, a knee brace can help. In the worst cases, surgery may be necessary.

As knee injuries are so painful and so widespread, prevention is always better than cure. When playing sports, it is a good idea to wear protective equipment, such as Kneepad and shin guards. Knee support, including knee-belts and knee braces can also help prevent injuries and protect your knees if you have it previously injured.

It is also crucial to ensure that you always warm and cool and that your training is gradually increased so that you do not your knees under undue strain.

It is well worth a try weight lifting to strengthen your muscles, and yoga or stretching to improve flexibility, as this reduced the risk of sports injuries. And, of course, if your sport with jumping, make sure you bend your knees when you land.

Increasing awareness about knee injuries, knee support and Sports First Aid can help you stay fit, it is an important ingredient to a successful athlete.

 

Author - Lucy Falle

Lucy Falle is Marketing Manager of First Aid 4 Sport, an online supplier of first aid, rehabilitation products and physiotherapy products. Lucy has previous experience as a sports instructor. For more information on first aid for sports injuries, see http://www.firstaid4sport.co.uk/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lucy_Falle

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