Sports Injuries of the Home

As NFL teams look to stay healthy going through the playoffs, and basketball and hockey teams go into the grind of their marathon seasons, many potential injuries await these athletes. Homes have similar hazards to avoid, hazards which can feel ubiquitous and demoralizing to homeowners who have already seen enough financial troubles this year. Here are some of the home repairs that seem to mirror common sports injuries?.

Roof Repairs and the Torn ACL
A tear in the anterior cruciate ligament is created when a sudden change of direction, external contact, or awkward landing causes a forward slide of the tibia and results in excessive strain on the ligament. It is the most common and one of the most dreaded injuries in sports. For residential homes, roof repair is essentially tied with A/C and plumbing repairs for the most common home injury, according to ServiceMagic, the leading online referral service for home improvement contractors.

But these two injuries share more than just frequency. Both the ACL injuries and the damaged roofs that grab the most headlines are not the most common problems and, in many cases, are not the most destructive. What does this mean? First, the most visible forms of roofing damage are caused by severe weather and fallen trees, but subtle leaks from wear and tear can allow moisture to infiltrate sub-roofing spaces destroying insulation and allowing wood rot to form. Together these repairs can cost several thousand dollars to remedy. Meanwhile, the most visible form of torn ACLs occur when NFL quarterbacks get hit while planting their leg during a throw. Yet, the generally wider pelvic bone of the female athlete makes the ACL more vulnerable and makes these injuries considerably more common in women.

Tommy John Surgery and Plumbing Repair
Tommy John surgery is the procedure that allows pitchers and other athletes to replace their ulnar collateral ligament with a ligament from somewhere else in their body, usually the forearm, hamstring, knee, or foot. The repetitive stress of the throwing is, by far, the most common cause. Tommy John surgery and plumbing repairs share many of the same risk factors. While the total number and type of pitches thrown has the strongest correlation to damage to a pitcher's UCL, what you flush down your pipes how often you do it can cause pipes to corrode and fail.

Of course, the quality of the pipes and the genetic codes of a pitcher's arm will also help determine how long each structure lasts. High-quality copper or CPVC pipes are less likely to need replacement than other piping. Some pitchers can throw near triple digits without ever replacing their UCL. After Tommy John surgery, if a pitcher continues to throw hard, additional ligament transplants may be necessary. Jose Rijo, Matt Riley, and Chad Fox each had the surgery done three times. Likewise, if you continue to install substandard pipes or abuse them by flushing clogging waste down your pipes, plumbing repairs can become a constant nuisance and drain on your finances.

Turf Toe and Appliance Repairs
Turf toe and appliance repair may not seem to have a lot in common, but a few recent developments have led to increasingly common frustrations with both these problems. Turf toe was virtually non-existent a few decades. The unforgiving nature of artificial turf—responsible for the condition's nickname—increases the chances of hyperextension in the big toe. Plus, more flexible soles and cleats that have a tendency to grab at the turf increase the toe's vulnerability.

In the past, household appliances commonly lasted twenty to thirty years or more. Today, homeowners can feel lucky if they get as much as 7-10 years from their washers and dryers, refrigerators and dishwashers. Higher production costs have led to cutting corners with labor and design. The demand for more energy-efficient has also shifted some of the focus on durability and longevity. Meanwhile, according to ServiceMagic, appliance repairs have more than doubled in just the last two years.

Unsportsmanlike Conduct: Don't Treat your Home like Tennis Elbow
Not every sports injury translates to the home. The treatment for tennis elbow, for example, is rest. You never want to ignore signs that your home has experienced damage. In more serious cases of tennis elbow, anti-inflammatory drugs, elbow braces, or heat/ice are used to reduce pain and further strain of the elbow. These superficial treatments may be the best course for tennis elbow, but home repairs almost always require a more focused and permanent fix. Too often, homeowners treat a spot on the ceiling, a crack in the wall, a stain in the carpet as you would tennis elbow. Ignore these problems and you'll quickly find yourself out of the game.

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