The Sports Archives – Why Playing Darts Is Good For Your Health

darts

Image sourced from Pixabay. CC0 License

It’s a game that is a favorite among pub crawlers. It is a game that is so popular there are leagues. It’s a game that is so popular that boards are found in people’s homes, garages, and basements. What game is it? Darts of course. A game that takes precision, skill, and a lot of patience. But, is it also good for your health? The answer is yes. Here are the reasons why playing darts is good for you.

Darts Exercise Your Brain

Darts is more about the skills of your brain than the skills of your body. When you are playing darts, the power of your reasoning, your hand-eye coordination, and your depth perception all come into play. You begin to exercise these cognitive parts of your brain on a regular basis and they become stronger each time you play. 

What’s more is that you will start to also exercise your math skills as you must keep score in your head and calculate the deduction of points in games like 501. 

You Will Become More Social

Our health is more than just how we feel and our diet. Health is also about the social aspects of our lives that keep us feeling balanced. Playing darts requires a person to go out and join a league or at least get together with friends to play the game. In turn, you will be making new friends, maintaining relationships with old friends, and getting out of your house and into the world. 

Being active in this sense keeps us motivated and keeps us wanting to be out more often. 

You Are More Productive

It has been researched that people who play sports tend to be more productive than people who don’t. The thinking behind this belief is that people who are constantly on the move like staying on the move so they will be more inclined to keep going throughout the day getting things done. 

When you have a date to play darts, you will get all the things done you need to in order to make the game. Also, the activity of being alert also motivates you to check items off of your list. Any sports player will tell you, the thrill of winning is a huge motivating factor in being your best. 

It’s Easier to Concentrate

Darts requires a lot of concentration. Not only are you activating your eyesight to see the board with eagle-like precision, but you also need to drown out the sounds of the pub, people talking, and the other team talking trash. Your concentration gets a major workout, and soon, you will be able to hold your concentration under any kind of circumstance. 

Concentration comes in handy in just about every aspect of our days and every aspect of our jobs. Sharpening this tool will only benefit you and will help you become a higher achiever. 

You Get the Sense of Belonging

When you belong to a team or a group of people who do a common activity, you get the sense of belonging and that is great for your mental health. A sport like darts has certain tools you need to buy like Red Dragon darts that become your personal equipment along with team shirts and team sponsored pubs where you become more than just a patron. 

Knowing you have people and you are surrounded by like-minded individuals does wonders for your psyche and it all starts by doing something as small as getting involved with the sport of darts. 

You Become a Strategic Thinker

When you are up against the wall playing a heated game of darts, you are going to need to strategize and plan all of your moves in order to succeed. With that, you will constantly be exercising your strategic thinking. Not only will this make you a better darts player, but it will help you earn victory at every turn. 

The best part of strategic thinking is that it is utilized in every aspect of your life. Driving, helping the kids with homework, figuring out problems at work, and helping loved ones hurdle life’s obstacles all can be overcome and won with a good strategic thinker. You will be improving your life and the life of others through sports. 

It Simply Makes You Happy

All the aforementioned reasons as to why playing darts is good for your health all come down to one thing: happiness. Because darts helps improve your mind and your thinking, you are more inclined to make better decisions and be surrounded by better people. When that happens, your happiness grows and your life improves. 

Happiness is always a choice, but it’s a lot easier to be happy when you are living a good life and you are the one responsible for all that goodness.  

You Will Improve On Your Control

Darts is a game of control. Control over yourself above all else. Darts gives you the opportunity to steady your mind, steady your nerves, and wait your turn. When you are able to harness these skills and use them to your advantage, you will become a master dart player. These control skills are also useful in the real world. 

When you are able to control your emotions and your reaction to certain situations, you will save yourself a lot of headaches by avoiding trouble. A lot of bad decisions are made during snap reactions, but when you are in control, you are always a winner. 

You Will Become More Confident

Confidence gets you everywhere. Confidence makes people notice you romantically, confidence helps you succeed at work, and confidence is an attractive quality that makes people want to be your friend. Darts enables you to develop a sense of confidence as you build yourself and your talents up. 

Conclusion 

With so many helpful mental and physical reasons why darts is so great for your health, it’s a wonder not everyone plays the sport. If you need a boost in your life, grab some friends, find a pub, and start getting on the darts bandwagon and start watching your life improve for the better.

Posted in Fitness/Wellness, Indoor Sports, Other | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Sports Archives – Sporty Ideas For Families

mini golf

Photo by Waldemar Brandt on Unsplash

Spending time together as a family is a special time. You want to have a great time and create memories that you’ll remember forever. If you’re a sporty family, then there are a lot of activities you can take part in that involve this. 

There are so many benefits or this type of activity. Not only can it bring you closer together as a family, but it can also benefit your health and coordination as well as your children’s social skills and confidence. Added to the fact that it’s a lot of fun too, then you can’t go wrong. 

We’ve rounded up some ideas for you when you’re planning your family activities.

Bowling

A great game for all ages. Whether you’re a pro bowler or need the side rails up, then it’s a lot of fun getting competitive. There are many bowling & family fun options to choose from and most have extra facilities on sites such as arcades and restaurants so you can make a day of it together. 

Batting cages

Relive those school baseball games in a family trip out to a batting cage. If you’ve never swung a bat for real before, it’s a great way to practice and have a laugh with the family too. 

You can rent cages by the hour or longer and you can make it interesting by splitting up into teams and playing against each other. 

Miniature golf

A favorite pastime for many people, miniature golf is a lot of fun. It’s designed to be played by people of all ages. Get competitive with your family on a themed miniature golf course. 

Indoor rock climbing

Climbing is increasing in popularity and the number of indoor climbing centers springing up is increasing too. They are very popular with clubs and kids’ parties. They’re perfect for a family outing too. Climbing is great for developing strength and coordination as well as teamwork.

Paintball

If you’ve got older kids and are feeling the need to let off a little steam or frustration, paintball is the obvious choice. Run around the countryside, firing paint pellets at each other. Be warned, they do hurt a little, even with the protective gear on. Learn teamwork by playing as a family against others or split up into different teams so you get a chance to splatter your family members in paint. 

Geocaching

If you want to get out and about in the countryside, Geocaching uses a GPS device or app to find hidden geocaches around the world. Almost 200 countries take part in Geocaching so you’re sure to find something near you. There are thought to be almost 3 million of these geocaches hidden all over the world. 

Takeaways

Make family time more interesting and healthy by getting out there and involved in sports. Making games and activities an everyday experience for your children is a great step to giving them an active lifestyle that will benefit them for the rest of their lives. 

 

Posted in Fitness/Wellness, Other | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Sports Archives – How to Be the Best Sports Parent Possible

baseball pitcher

Pexels – CCO Licence

When you are the parent of a child who loves, and is good at, sports, it can be easy to push them too hard to achieve their goals or to go completely the other way and be too loose with your parenting less you become an overbearing mom or dad, and it can get pretty stressful trying to do the best for your kids when you don’t really know what will help them to pursue their love of sports while still enjoying everyday life as a child.

Of course, parenting is an individual thing, and there is no right or wrong ways as long as your child is happy and healthy, but if you are a sports parent looking to do your best, here are a few things that might help you to get the balance right.

Be the kind of person you would like them to be

Whether you are the parent of a sporty child or not, one of the best things you can do for them is to be a good role model. Children are like sponges and they soak up all of the information around them. If they see their parents trash-talking their opponents, being a sore loser, or never taking time out to relax and just have fun, chances are they will think that is the right way of doing things and they will follow suit.

It’s not always easy, but if you can model good sporting behaviors like always being the first to congratulate the winner, even if they were not your child, always speaking well of others, and making time for fun in your busy schedule, you will be far more likely to raise a happy, successful and well-rounded sporty child.

Don’t apply too much pressure

Again, it can be tricky to find the balance when you have a sporty child and you want them to do well, but you also want them to enjoy the sport and have a life outside of athletics or football or whatever, but it is really something you, as a parent, should focus on.

Encourage your child to train hard when they are training, but make sure that they also take time out to read a book or play with friends, or hit the park with mom and dad without any pressure to always be on. Stress the importance of fair play and praise the effort they put in rather than the end result and they won’t be so scared to fail that they push themselves too hard and struggle to enjoy everything else that life has to offer. 

Stay present

Many parents of sporty children end up missing out on the joy of seeing their kids succeed in the present because they always have one eye on the future. They are so busy thinking about that college scholarship X years into the future, that they never take the time to sit back and enjoy how well their child is playing in the baseball game today or how much effort their child puts in.

As a parent looking back, this is something you are likely to forget. So, yes, prepare for the future, but don’t let it take over all of your lives, and try to focus more on enjoying their success now if you can because they really do grow up so fast.

Give them what they need

Whether it is a new pair of custom made goalkeeper gloves that will help them be more effective at their sport or a hug to show them you care when they didn’t quite hit their goals, giving them what they need when they need it most is an easy way to show them that you love them for who they are, care about their happiness, and support them in their sporting endeavors.

Of course, what they need may not be sports-related at all, it may be time cuddling while you read a good book together or a fun day out with friends who aren’t on the sports team so that they can have a brake and this is just as important of ensuring they have what they need for their sport.

Give them more independence

If you want your sports-loving child to really blossom and achieve their full potential, then you need to learn how to loosen the reins a little. The more independence you can give your child, the better able they will be to experiment with techniques, take more risks and work out what they are fully capable of. Sure, they might take a wrong turn now and again, but that will just help to build their character, and as long as they are not in any danger, it will be a great life lesson for them, and you as parents of a child who is growing up every day.

Encourage academic studies

When your child is a football star or the best gymnast on the team, it is easy to pin all your hopes and dreams on that, but even if your child does get to be a sporting success, having a solid academic education behind them will give them more options should they not wish to pursue sports or when they retire from the game. Smart kids are also better at working out tactics and techniques that will help them to succeed even more effectively in their sports.

Have fun

As a family, you should make a point of having as much fun together as possible on and off the field. Go to games, then go out for pizza, see a movie, play board games and just enjoy being together no matter what.

Not only that, but if you show your child that academics is equally as important as sports, it will help to take some of the pressure off them too,

Benign the parent of a talented sports girl or boy can be tough, but if you love them, nurture their talent and let them have lots of fun times amongst the training, you can probably strike the right balance for them, and for you as a parent too.

 

Posted in Fitness/Wellness, Other | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Sports Archives – How Sports Can Help Your Young Child Succeed Throughout Life

Little League

Image via Unsplash

While technology comes with its benefits, it can negatively impact a child’s senses of identity and reality. Too much reliance on electronic media can result in cognitive problems, concentration issues, low self-esteem, poor social skills, bad or aggressive behavior, depression, and other harmful effects.

On the other hand, sports tend to help children develop healthy habits. By staying physically active and learning to work with others, your child can reap tons of physical, mental, emotional, and social benefits. Below, The Sports Archives Blog goes into more detail about how sports can benefit kids!

Going All In    

Physical activity in sports is known by researchers today to be just as critical to a child’s development as math, science, and other subjects. The best way to get your child excited about sports is to get involved yourself and make it a big deal! For instance, make sure one parent or caregiver is at all of your child’s games or matches, and try to do something special afterward, such as going to a restaurant or ice cream shop.

While you’re at it, invite all of your relatives and friends to games (and even practices). And if you want to take it to the next level, have t-shirts printed for your friends and family that show your child support. Maybe even get your kid to help you create a logo that you can use for the t-shirts. A quick search online will reveal tools you can use for a free clothing logo design.

Sports and the Brain

The front part of our brains controls our emotions, cognitive skills, and social abilities. When someone engages in sports and physical activity, it increases oxygen and blood flow to the brain. It also releases endorphins and hormones that enhance mood and well-being while boosting positive feelings.

What is more, physical exertion creates new nerve cells in the brain that influence and connect other parts of the brain. In other words, playing sports can help your child’s brain function better and lead to more logical thinking and empathy.

Essential Life Skills

Every parent wants their kids to develop life skills throughout childhood because they serve as the foundation for the many other skills kids develop as they approach adulthood. Playing sports can help your child develop more self-awareness, leading to better problem-solving, decision-making, and communication skills.

When a person is self-aware, they can communicate with more empathy and perspective-taking, helping them to build positive relationships. And don’t be surprised if playing sports also helps your child build self-confidence that will help them accomplish any goal they pursue.

Social and Emotional Skills       

Children need to develop social and emotional skills because it helps them stay calm under pressure and practice self-control. We all know what a mess we can get in when we react before we think, and good social and emotional skills can help your child prevent from doing that. Self-control will help your child listen to others, recognize other people’s feelings, and express their feelings positively.

Academic and Career Development

To succeed in academics, kids must show initiative and remain assertive, aware, and curious. Playing sports can help children develop these qualities and ultimately help them use their imagination and critical thinking more effectively.

In most sports, a child must play a specific position. They must learn their role, follow instructions, and stay accountable to their coaches and teammates. These skills can translate to stellar study habits!

Finally, all of the skills and qualities mentioned above can go a long way in helping a child succeed in their career of choice. Today, most professions rely on teamwork and social awareness, among many other skills. By playing sports, your child can get a head start on some of the essential characteristics of the workforce.

Conclusion

Kids are exposed to more than enough electronic media, and it’s essential to think of other ways that you can influence your child positively. Consider the information and advice above for getting your child involved in sports, and work with them to find a sport or activity that aligns with their personality and interest. Your family could be having fun at games and watching your child develop healthfully in no time!

Would you like to read more helpful content or learn about our sports and fitness media center? Visit TheSportsArchivesBlog.com today!

Posted in Fitness/Wellness | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Sports Archives – How To Get Into Bow Hunting

Hunting is a very popular sport all over the world, and it’s easy enough to see why. After all, it is a way to spend time in the great outdoors, getting plenty of physical exercise and generally having a good time – and all the while, you can also hope to satisfy one of the baser, animal aspects of our human nature.

A lot of people are hunting these days, and there are plenty of different kinds of hunting that you might want to consider trying out. One example, and one that is especially good for the beginner, is known as bow hunting. This simply refers to hunting done using a bow and arrow, or in other words, the sport of archery.

If you are thinking about getting into this, but you are curious about how to do it and what it will take, there are a few things that you might want to bear in mind. Below you will find something that will particularly help with this: an infographic on bow hunting for beginners, including all the information you will need to have in order to get started.

You’ll learn how to pick a bow for whichever animal you are considering hunting, how to make sure that you have all the necessary gear, and what to consider when it comes to getting training. If you read through all this, you are going to be in a much better position when it comes to getting into bow hunting, so take a look right now.


Infographic by bow hunting for beginners

 

Posted in Other | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Sports Archives – Los Angeles Rams Confirm Intention to Re-Sign Odell Beckham Jr.

Odell Beckham Jr.

By Erik Drost – https://www.flickr.com/photos/edrost88/51402744025CC BY 2.0,https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=112215971

No sooner had Odell Beckham Jr completed the first touchdown of Los Angeles Rams’ successful Super Bowl win over the Cincinnati Bengals than he had suffered a torn ACL that saw him miss the second half of the game more than likely a sizable chunk of the upcoming season.

However, this hasn’t put off the Rams when it comes to looking to tie the wide receiver to a new contract, his current deal having run out days after the Super Bowl triumph. 29-year-old Beckham Jr. is apparently keen to re-sign with the Rams but isn’t going to be short of offers, chiefly because of his great spell at the SoFi Stadium last season.

The Rams winning the Super Bowl in 2022 wasn’t something many would have predicted, and if you look over at odds comparison service Sidelines, you’ll see that Sean McVay’s team are some way down the pecking order when it comes to NFL Super Bowl futures odds, Los Angeles now being placed at fifth favorites at around (+1200) to repeat the feat.

General manager Les Snead has made it clear he wants to sign up Beckham Jr. as soon as possible, despite his lengthy injury lay-off, stating;

“We would definitely appreciate him being a part of that diversity of [pass-catchers] we were talking about, and coming in obviously later in the season and kind of finishing things off with him,”

“So similar to last year, although different circumstances.”

Snead is also looking to keep hold of defensive tackle Aaron Donald and is seemingly confident of doing so;

“We definitely have chatted with Aaron, his representation,”

“And we’re trying to come up with a win-win solution to reward Aaron but still definitely be able to continue trying to compete as a team at the highest level. So we’re in progress there.”

The situation the Rams find themselves in relation to Beckham Jr. may have actually been assisted by the fact that he is sidelined. After all, the Rams saw Von Miller leave for the Buffalo Bills earlier this month, the defensive end having arrived last November and playing a key role in helping them to the Super Bowl.

Miller then opted to sign a six-year deal with the Bills, worth $120 million, and one wonders if Beckham Jr might have been persuaded to cash-in in a similar style had it not been for his ACL issues.

Beckham Jr. also arrived in November and was back to his very best, catching 48 passes for 593 yards and seven touchdowns over the course of the 12 games he saw in action.

As for other options, Beckham Jr is also being courted by the New England Patriots with his former teammate Mack Wilson Sr. looking to bring him to Foxborough, and there is ongoing talk of a possible return to the Cleveland Browns for the free agent.

When it comes to the injury Beckham Jr. has suffered, there are conflicting estimates as to how long it may take for a full recovery, and some medical experts have actually suggested he could be out for the entirety of 2022-23.

 

Posted in Football | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Sports Archives – 4 Ways Sports Fans Can Use Their Tax Refunds

Basketball Scenic

Are you excited about your recent tax refund? If you’re into sports, you might want to splurge on a fun, sports-related purchase! You can find plenty of inspiration on The Sports Archive Blog. Here are a few suggestions for spending your tax refund in a way that fuels your passion for sports.

Tickets to a Big Game

If you’ve recently received a tax refund, it might be the perfect excuse to score tickets to a big game! You can even make a weekend trip out of it. For instance, you could head up to New York City and enjoy a few affordable activities, like relaxing in Bryant Park or visiting the New York Public Library. And if you’re a sports fan, you can snag tickets for a ball game during your trip. Perhaps you’re even planning for a special date, in which case, a NY Yankees game can be pretty romantic!

To get discounted tickets, check out websites that provide great deals – just filter by your preferred date, price range, and seat rating. And to figure out where you want to sit, you can check out a 360-degree, interactive seating chart of Yankee Stadium.

Backyard Equipment

Do you have a big backyard? This could be the perfect time to outfit your yard with sports equipment! For instance, you could set up a basketball hoop or a soccer goal. You could also get baseball equipment to practice at home. No matter which sport you love, you can stop by your local sporting goods store to pick up some gear. This is a great way to treat yourself!

Home Gym

Maybe you don’t have much yard space, but you do have some extra space inside. You could set up a home gym! Although playing sports in the house isn’t really an option, you can structure your workouts to improve your skills outside of the gym. If you’re wondering what to buy for your home gym, A Sweat Life recommends investing in a treadmill, weight rack, resistance bands, or a weight machine.

For workouts, you’ll also want to invest in a supportive pair of sneakers. To choose the right shoes, Runners World recommends buying shoes that have enough comfortable wiggle room for your toes – this will help you avoid getting blisters!

Kids’ Activity Fund

What if you want to encourage your children to get involved with sports? You could stash your tax refund in a savings account for now, and if they’re ready to join a team later, you can use that money to buy their uniforms, gear, or pay any fees for their team. By supporting your child’s athletic pursuits, you can enjoy sports together later in life!

When it comes to spending your tax refund, the sky’s the limit! Feel free to use your imagination and spend it on something that genuinely brings you joy, like sports. With inspiration from these ideas, you’re sure to find a great use for your tax refund.

Need motivation to pick up your favorite sport? Check out The Sports Archive Blog! Browse the blog today for inspiration.

Photo via Pexels

Posted in Fitness/Wellness, Other | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Sports Archives – How To Start A New Career In Sports

They say it’s never too late to start a new career, and that is an exciting prospect, especially if you have decided that you want to work in a sport-related field. It means that no matter who you are or where you are in life, if you want to do something different, there is no reason why you shouldn’t. You might, of course, be worried about trying something new and have no idea where to even start. Read on, and you’ll discover that starting a new career in sports might not be as difficult as you thought. There are many different ways to get started. 

Track and Field

Image from Pexels

Take Your Time 

The critical thing to remember to begin with is that you must take your time when considering a new career. Don’t just quit your current job one day and expect to walk into a new one the next – it doesn’t work like that. Instead, once you know that you want to work in the sporting field, you can look at the kinds of careers that interest you and research them to find out what you would really enjoy about them. It might be that stand up paddleboards are your favorite thing, in which case, that’s where you need to focus your efforts. 

You can find out what experience and qualifications you need at the same time, and if you are lacking, you can look at studying further, for example, or volunteering in a relevant sector. The time spent deciding what to do next will never be wasted; it is far better to take a slower approach to a new job than to rush and then not have the choices you might have wanted and end up in another job that you don’t enjoy. 

Bear in mind that you can start getting together whatever you need in order to get going. To take the example from earlier, you might want to get a new paddleboard from Amazon, and then start using it and teaching with it, for instance. It’s up to you, but this is one approach you could take.

Start Networking 

Whether you have decided to try an entirely new career from what you are doing now, or perhaps you’ve decided to stick with what you know but want to do it for yourself and start your own business, you will need to network. Networking is simply the process of getting to know people who can help you in your career and in the sporting world that is vital. They might be able to introduce you to someone looking for a new employee, for example, or they might be able to help with issues when you are just starting out. 

The more people you know, both in your sector and outside of it, the better. You never know when a friendship or even a simple casual acquaintance will put you in the right place at the right time

Create A Resume 

A simple thing but one that many people forget is that you will need a resume for your new career in whatever sporting field you have chosen. You may not have written one for many years; maybe you have never written one. Now is the time to write an entirely new one, making sure to list out all of your skills and experience. They may not match up to the job that you are looking for exactly, but sometimes experience is more important, and being able to show how your knowledge can help in any situation could be vital. 

Writing a resume is not a quick job, and it is one that needs to be taken seriously. You might go through several drafts before you are happy, but if your resume is not right, you might not get a chance at a new career in sports, and that would be a shame. 

Use The Right Resources

You’ll not only need to know how to play sports properly, but you’ll have to do so to an exceptional degree. That means knowing the ins-and-outs as much as possible. Thankfully, that’s much easier than you might’ve thought, as there are countless resources you can lean on to help. Using these makes your career in sports much easier.

Whether it’s batting videos or management software, use the right resources for your needs. They’ll not only help you in the short-term, but could make everything easier in the long run. There’s no shame in leaning on these, especially when you’re first starting out. Take advantage of whatever you need, and you should see more success.

Posted in Fitness/Wellness, Other | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Sports Archives – Getting Into Cycling

cycling

Image Source

Considering getting into cycling? This could be a great addition to your day to day routine. Whether you decide to cycle once a fortnight or every day, it can bring a great hobby into your life for you to look forward to. Plus, it can really help with your overall health and wellbeing. Here are a few pieces of information, as well as tips and tricks, that can help you to get started on your cycling journey.

Health Benefits

One of the main reasons people get into cycling is, of course, the health benefits. It’s recommended that the average adult gets one hundred and fifty minutes of moderate aerobic exercise a week, or seventy five minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise. All too many people fail to reach this goal for various reasons. Some people have busy schedules and fail to fit it in. Some people simply don’t feel like exercising and avoid it. Trying cycling is definitely worth it, as you can find a form of exercise you actually enjoy. You get to spend some time outdoors and the sensation of cycling is fun and freeing. These are some of the health benefits you can enjoy:

  • Increased cardiovascular fitness
  • Increased muscle strength
  • Increased flexibility
  • Improved joint mobility
  • Reduced stress levels
  • Improved posture
  • Improved coordination
  • Stronger bones
  • Reduced body fat
  • Can help anxiety and depression

Cycling is also a convenient form of exercise that many people can really enjoy. It is low impact, making it kind on the joints and is suitable for elderly individuals or people who may need to ease themselves slowly into exercise.

Other Benefits

Of course, if you get really into your cycling and start traveling longer distances, there are other benefits that come hand in hand with the activity alongside the health benefits too! First, you may find that you don’t actually need a car anymore and can save a lot of money by cycling to the places you need to go instead. Secondly, there can be a social element to cycling. If you find others who are also into cycling you can meet up on a regular basis, stopping off at cafes and other locations to chat.

Getting the Essentials

Of course, getting started with cycling is going to cost a little money to get started. There are a few things that you will need to buy to be able to get started and hit the cycle path. The good news is that once you’ve bought the basics, you should be set for a long time. You can then choose to invest in more professional, niche or specific wear and accessories as time goes on and as you get more into the activity.

A Bike

Of course, to cycle, you’re going to need a bicycle. There are countless different makes, models and designs of bikes available on the market. From road bikes to mountain bikes to BMXs. Only you can know which option will be best for you to suit your individual preferences and needs. Once you’ve chosen a model, make sure to visit a seller or specialist who will be able to make recommendations regarding what size frame will suit you best.

A Helmet

Safety is key. You’re going to need a helmet for your cycling and it’s important that you wear it every single time you get on your bike. Even small falls can result in great injuries with lasting consequences if you fall and hit your head without a helmet on. This is a potentially life saving piece of equipment. There are plenty of models available, so make sure to browse your options and to choose something that fits you well.

Bike Lights

If you’re going to be cycling at night, in the dark or in less than favourable weather conditions (such as fog, rain or other elements), you should make sure that you have a bike light. This will not only light your way, making sure you can see what is ahead of you, but it can also ensure that other road users, pedestrians and other individuals around you can see your presence. This can prevent accidents and keep everyone safe.

Reflective Clothing

It’s also a good idea to wear reflective clothing if you’re planning on cycling in any of the conditions or elements highlighted above. This will give you further visibility, further increasing your safety while you’re out and about.

As you can see, there’s a lot to mull over when it comes to getting started with cycling. But hopefully, some of the information and suggestions will help you to get on two wheels in next to no time!

Posted in Fitness/Wellness, Other | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Sports Archives – Prevent Wrist Pain & Forearm Cramping During Exercise With These Tips

wrist pain

Photo Source (CC0 License)

When working out or playing sports, you can experience a boatload of injuries or inconveniences. Some of these issues are more common than others, such as wrist pain and forearm cramping. This mainly happens during any activities that make you grip things in your hands. For example, lifting weights, playing tennis, bowling, climbing, playing golf, and so on. 

If you often struggle with pain in your wrist or forearm while doing any form of exercise, this post will be extremely beneficial for you. Below, we’ll go over a few of the ways you can relieve and prevent these pains from happening all the time. Let’s take a look at what you can do:

Ease the pain with ice

Firstly, you need to ease the pain when it gets bad. Usually, wrist pain or forearm pain are signs of inflammation in the area. As a result, you have lots of blood flooding to these parts of the body, making it inflamed and sore. So, adding a hot compress to the area will just make the issue worse. For instant relief, you should ice your wrist/forearm or use a cold compress. This should help you avoid pain following your exercise routine.

Stretch & massage your forearm

Forearm cramping comes from overuse of the muscle. The activity you’re doing will make you use your forearm muscles a hell of a lot, meaning they can get really cramped up and tight. This can make it hard for you to do anything, and it’s especially hard for you to grip objects. So, one way to relieve the pain during or after your exercise routine is by stretching the forearm muscles. 

Now, the forearm contains lots of different muscles, both on the top and underneath. As such, you need to stretch all of these muscles to get the most relief. However, for a lot of you, forearm cramping and pain happen on the underside of your forearm. If you rotate your hand so the palm faces you, it’s the muscles below the palm that get really tight. Stretching these out is very easy, you simply straighten out your arm and bend the fingers of your hand back towards the top side of your forearm. You can also stretch it by placing the palm of your hand on a table and straightening out your arm. 

This video actually runs through some pretty great stretches and mobility work you should do if you have forearm tightness or wrist pain: 

Additionally, massaging your forearm can also help with pain relief. You can use your own fingers and thumbs to do this, massaging the muscles to loosen them up. This gets rid of a lot of tension in the forearm that can lead to soreness. If you have a massage gun, then it works really well on this area of the body. We’re talking about devices like the Theragun, which provide vibrations and percussive therapy to really get deep into the muscle and melt the tension away. 

Relax your workload

The first two tips will help you relieve your wrist/forearm pain when it sparks up. Now, we’re drifting towards things you can do to prevent it from happening in the first place. Of course, one of the main things to do is relax your workload. If your wrist and forearm keep hurting whenever you exercise or play sports, it is time for you to take a break. Give your body time to heal, in which you can ice the area and do your stretches/massages. At the same time, you can start doing some physical therapy as a form of rehabilitation. 

Improve your forearm/wrist strength

This is when you start getting into the rehabilitation part of your journey. There’s no point only focusing on relieving your pain if you don’t address why it’s happening. In most cases, your wrist or forearm pain comes down to muscular weaknesses. Specifically, the muscles in your forearms are too weak, which puts extra stress on the wrist joints. You’ll know if your forearms are weak because they tire out really easily when you exercise. 

For example, you’re trying to lift weights, but your forearms and wrists are tiring before other muscles. Or, you’re bowling, but your forearm starts getting really tight and tired after just a couple of throws. The same goes for tennis players – you can get sore forearms before the rest of your body feels tired, disrupting your game. 

In any case, you need to focus on exercises that build forearm strength. A good place to begin is with some grip strength exercises. You can purchase grip trainers that basically get you to squeeze something over and over again. It strengthens a lot of the muscles in your forearm, helping you develop a stronger grip. Alternatively, hanging from a pull-up bar for as long as possible can also improve your grip strength. 

There’s another short video below that goes through a few more advanced exercises to strengthen all the different muscles around your wrist, in your forearm: 

It is worth trying these exercises and seeing how things improve. If you still suffer from pain, you should probably see a physical therapist. They will be able to give you more specific exercises that target any special problems you have. 

Wear gloves/wrist supports

Finally, you can further prevent wrist pain and forearm cramping by wearing things that offer more support. Gloves are available in different varieties depending on the sporting activity you’re partaking in. Normally, they’re only useful for people lifting weights or bowling. Weightlifting gloves are made out of materials that are extremely grippy. This is because they’re designed to help you grip onto things without the weights slipping between your hands. As a result, less strain and effort is placed on your wrist/forearm muscles, preventing soreness. Now, what are bowling gloves made of? Well, they’re usually made from materials that also provide a lot of grips, but the big difference is that they also include more support around the wrist. This can prevent repetitive strain injuries from bowling over and over again, reducing the chances of you developing wrist pain. 

You can get golfing gloves, but they’re not really going to help you with this pain. As for tennis gloves, they don’t really exist. Instead, you will need to buy wrist supports. These come in different forms, but the idea is that they wrap around your forearm and wrist, and you can wear them while exercising or playing sports. They fight tightly around your arms so there’s extra support around the muscles. As a result, less strain is placed on your forearms, so your wrists don’t suffer any additional tension. 

Generally, it’s a good idea to wear gloves or wrist supports as you are lightening your workload and getting back into the swing of things. They should also be worn while you continue to work on improving your wrist/forearm strength. The end goal is that you can do whatever you enjoy doing without the need for gloves or wrist supports. But, they can help you reach the end of your journey quicker by protecting your body. 

There you have it: how to prevent wrist pain and forearm cramping during exercise. We’ve mentioned a few common activities and sports that generate this pain, but it can happen during any form of exercise. Follow the tips above to deal with your pain and prevent it in the future. 

Alternative Pain Management Methods

Delta 9 Gummies is an intriguing alternative to traditional methods of dealing with sports injury prevention and wrist pain. Delta 9 Gummies are chewable edibles from Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) derived from cannabis. Delta 9 tricks the body into sending pain relief signals throughout, helping reduce inflammation that causes wrist pain and forearm cramping during exercise. Studies have found Delta 9 incredibly effective in relieving joint and muscle discomfort. In addition, Delta 9’s anti-inflammatory properties help to speed up recovery time after exercise or physical activity, providing relief for any wrist injuries endured in the process. Delta 9 can be taken orally as a supplement or ingested through edibles like Delta 9 gummies. To ensure maximum effectiveness, be sure that you satisfy your daily suggested dosage as recommended by a health professional. Proper hydration and nutrition should also be followed as part of a holistic approach toward beating physical injuries while exercising.

Posted in Fitness/Wellness | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment