Don't brush off sports injuries

Untreated injuries could lead to post-traumatic osteoarthritis, with inflammation, swelling and pain even decades later

- Amrita Kaur

Ms Michaela Lim has always led an active lifestyle. The mother of two was drawn to racket sports like squash in her youth, and later picked up tennis and badminton.

It was after an intense squash game about 30 years ago that she first noticed discomfort in her right shoulder. The next day, her shoulder felt tight, stiff and sore.

She managed the discomfort with stretching, unaware that an untreated sports injury could lead to post-traumatic osteoarthritis later in life.

This form of osteoarthritis develops after injury to a joint, such as a ligament tear, cartilage damage, fracture or dislocation.

When racket sports became too punishing on her shoulder, she turned to martial arts.

About 15 years ago, after enrolling her children in wushu classes, she decided to join in, even though she was the only adult.

Eventually, her children stopped attending classes, but she continued practicing it. Three years ago, she transitioned to taiji, which she found gentler and easier on the joints.

Although she experienced shoulder pain from time to time due to sports, she thought it was part and parcel of being active.

"I never believed I needed medical attention because the discomfort usually subsided with stretching, rest or even by switching the racket to my left hand," says the 53-year-old retired aircraft planner for a private jet company, whose children are aged 23 and 21.

Instead of seeing a doctor, she relied on monthly massages in the past five years to cope.

Then, during a warm-up for a taiji competition in February, things came to a head. Ms Lim felt her right shoulder pop out of its socket and instinctively shoved it back in.

"I felt excruciating pain and a complete loss of strength in my arm," she recalls.

With just 10 minutes to go before her routine, she rested, stretched and massaged the area, pushing through the pain to complete her performance.