8 Considerations For Playing Sports Through Pain Or Injury

This Sunday was the opening day for baseball season in my 30 and over Harford County men’s league. It was a chilly, shady, windy, 44 degree morning - there’s no better way to start baseball season in the north east!

Thanks to a combination of lifting weights, cardio work, sauna, and signal training, my body was feeling the best it has in a long time heading into the game. 

The game started easily enough with a quick 1, 2, 3, inning before my team, the Cubs, came to bat. Our leadoff hitter reached base before I stepped up to the plate for my first at bat of the season.

On a 2-2 count, I hit a ground ball deep in the hole at second base and took off sprinting down the line. As I’m approaching first base, I realize the first baseman has his foot covering a decent bit of a bag (he isn’t supposed to do that!)  and a collision is imminent.

I reach for the bag and trip over him, tumbling to the ground.  My shoulder hits the ground with an immediate spike in pain, but I’m back on my feet in no time. 

“We’re good to go, nothing hurt,” I think to myself. 

Two or three pitches pass before, and I take off to steal second base. 

“Whatttt?” I think in my head. My shoulder does not want to move!