Participation in sporting events beyond the “traditional” basketball and volleyball is becoming more common in the Philippines, with more people signing up for running events like the Cebu Marathon and tACbo Run in Makati, as well as previously uncommon sports like pickleball, competitive frisbee, and rugby.

While sports are a good way to stay healthy and active, the exertion required for such activities often leads to injuries and other health issues. Let’s look at some sporting events, health risks, and how you can protect yourself.

Please note we will only cover common injuries and some serious health concerns related to sporting events. Situations like what happened at the 117th Boston Marathon in 2013 fall beyond the scope of this article and may fall under Acts of God.

Common Risks

Any degree of intense physical activity carries risk. Sporting event injuries often occur when participants push their bodies to the limit, leading to strain or injury. Some of the most common risks include the following:

• Musculoskeletal injuries: Damage to muscles and bones is one of the most common sports injuries, such as sprains of the foot and back muscles, harm to the knees, and tears in ligaments and tendons.
• Overexertion: Sports and other fitness events push participants to exert themselves. This becomes detrimental when it leads to overexertion, resulting in muscle inflammation and fatigue. Overexertion also triggers more serious health risks.
• Dehydration and Overheating: The exertion required in sports, along with their often outdoor environments, can lead to participants suffering from dehydration or even heat-related issues, especially on warm days for events like marathons and running competitions.

Serious Concerns

Outside of common musculoskeletal injuries, overexertion, and dehydration, sports events lead to more serious health concerns. These often stem from prior conditions the participant was unaware of or did not prepare for.

Even people with health conditions like heart disease and severe asthma can participate meaningfully in sports, but precautions must be taken and consultations made with their doctors.

• Cardiac events: Intense physical activities will always raise your heart rate, but those with prior conditions can be susceptible to cardiac arrest. This can be as simple as an irregular or very fast heartbeat, or you might experience chest pains or pressure that radiates from your neck or jaw to your arms.
• Breathing difficulties: People with conditions like asthma or even a very bad cold on the day of an event can suffer from breathing difficulties in the course of the activity, especially when they start exerting themselves. Look out for acute shortness of breath, loss of focus (from the lack of oxygen), and dizziness.
• Rhabdomyolysis: A condition where muscles break down, leading to muscle death and even kidney damage when the muscle fibers go to the kidney via the circulatory system. This is often caused by suddenly engaging in high-intensity exercises and/or dehydration and overheating.

Preparations and Precautions

Here are steps you can take to reduce these sporting health risks:

• Avoid entering a major sporting event without proper preparation. Train beforehand to reduce injury risk.
• At the same time, do not overtrain or overcondition yourself. This leads to unnecessary fatigue, and some people injure themselves during training.
• Consult with your doctors if you have any medical conditions. It might also be good to do a pre-screening if you can.
• Wear the appropriate gear during the event. Dress comfortably for the weather.
• Never forget to hydrate and to rest if you feel like you’re overexerting.

Ensuring Sports Safety

Taking precautions and preparing properly helps in avoiding sports event injuries. But despite our preparations and caution, accidents and untoward events can still happen to our loved ones. It could come from other participants not being as careful as we are, or something in the environment.

Health and accident insurance can greatly mitigate the effects of unlooked-for injuries and other concerns you or your loved ones might incur during a sporting event. 

Insurance helps ensure that you get immediate medical attention and that you get the best care available in case of an accident. It also eases the financial burden of paying for the treatments and medicines, as common injuries and health concerns stemming from sports activities can be expensive. A health plan could also help cover any pre-screening consultation costs with your doctor or any medical specialist.

Outside of sporting events, a health plan can help you optimize your active lifestyle by reducing or even removing the cost of access to medical specialists who can advise on your training and wellness journey.

Preparation and precaution will always be your best protection against sporting event health risks. Having health insurance covers what you can’t prepare for or foresee. Our Reliable Insurance Brokers can help advise you on the best plans that suit your lifestyle and health needs.

Contact Information for Inquiries and Support

If you have any questions or need assistance with your insurance, feel free to reach out to us:

• Call: +63 2 8631 9285 to 86
• Mobile: +63 917 138 5120
• Email: info@reliable-insurance.ph
• Messenger: m.me/reliable.insurancebrokersph

Sources

• Better Health Channel (No Date), Exercise Safety.
• World Transplanet Games Federation (No Date) Risks Associated With Exercise.
• Lumen Learning (No Date), Introduction to Fitness and Wellness.
• ACS Distance Education (No Date), Exercise Risks.
• Cleveland Clinic (No Date), Rhabdomyolysis.